Baking Class Teens Still Tan Despite The Dangers
The tanned bodies roaming Coeur d’ Alene beaches and stretching out beneath pale purple sun lamps may look appealing to many of today’s fashionable teens, but, as the cliche goes, looks can be deceiving.
The idea of obtaining a “safe tan” is as likely as touching a “cold fire” - doctors say the idea is an oxymoron.
Despite the warnings, millions of tan-crazed customers pour into the 25,000 tanning parlors stretching across our darkening nation. Whether lying indoors or outdoors, Americas’ obsession with turning the perfect color deepens every year.
Consequently, doctors predict over 1 million Americans will fall victim to the disfiguring and sometimes fatal pains of skin cancer. Some frightened tanners, after realizing the dangers of the sun, dodged the docks and beaches and headed into the artificial light of tanning beds.
As Lindsay, a Shadle Park student, says, “I’m not worried about tanning parlors because you can get a safe tan here without burning.”
Uh, not quite.
Since tanning beds only emit ultraviolet alpha rays (UVA) instead of ultraviolet beta rays (UVB), many “fake and bakers” believe the same myth as Lindsay. But this belief may be dangerously wrong, according to studies completed last year.
Research claimed people under the age of 30 who use tanning beds at least 10 times a year have more than seven times the risk of melanoma (the deadliest skin cancer) than people who choose to stay away from exposing their hides.
But those obsessed with golden skin refuse to stay away. In such a materialistic society, people continue to rely on tanning beds to produce the best body they can possibly strut. Since tanning parlors promise a safe tan, many customers feel justified in their actions.
Dr. Philip Werschler, a Spokane dermatologist, called the UVA ray “the wrinkle ray.” It is 320 to 400 nanometers in spectral length, which causes such chronic damage as freckles, leathery skin, premature wrinkles, blotchy pigmentations, dilated blood vessels and maybe cancer (if the length is short enough). Normally, the first wrinkle on the skin would not appear until the age of 70 (just look at your grandmother’s rear if you don’t believe it - it’s much less wrinkled than the rest of the body), but tanners age much quicker.
Dermatologists attribute this premature reaction to the UVA.
Werschler described the UVB as “the cancer ray” - 280 to 320 nanometers in spectral length, which, of course, stimulates cancerous growth.
“When manufacturers create the bulbs for the tanning boxes, they push as close to the UVB wave length as possible without exceeding the UVA limit,” Werschler explained. “This concentration on a shorter light spectrum inflicts a great degree of skin damage and can actually cause cancer.”
Tanning indoors or outdoors is a bad idea anytime if you’re using certain medications, Werschler warned. Sun-sensitizing pills such as Ibuprofen, antibiotics, tranquilizers, antihistamines, oral diabetes meds and birth-control pills can cause mutations in pigmentation. Such photoreactions commonly occur on the forehead, cheekbones and lips.
“The upper lip can become so dark one might mistake it for a moustache,” Werschler said. “They may not be dangerous, but they are incredibly disfiguring.”
So, there’s good reason not to tan; why do people do it?
“Well, I suppose I like to go tanning because it’s so relaxing,” said U-High junior Aaron Sanders after a 20-minute session at Jungle Tan. “Plus, you look great on the beach.”
Others hit the tanning booths for the protection. One woman told me she was planning a trip to Hawaii and wanted a protective base-tan before lying in the intense sun.
Unfortunately, the tanning booth tan will provide no such shield. Natural sunlight activates the melanin in the skin, while tanning beds stimulate the blood vessels deeper in the skin, making them change color instead of the pigment cells.
“Ultimately, the tanning bed provides only an SPF (sun protecting factor) of 2 to 4, which won’t make any difference,” said Werschler.
The biggest reason for tanning - though most won’t admit it - is to obtain that healthy “Baywatch” glow.
“Oh, I’m not too worried about what happens to me in the future,” joked recent Ferris graduate Chris Flynn before heading to his deck to bask in the sun. “I just want to look good now.”
Well, most people do. Sadly enough, more and more youth are appearing with cancers as simple as basal cell or as fatal as melanoma. If you ever come across a person without an ear, eye, nose or lip, it undoubtedly occurred from melanoma, the fastest growing cancer in the world.
“I’m not a rabid anti-tanning freak, but I have seen a lot of teens with melanoma, allergic reactions and rashes,” Werschler stated. “Just make sure you’re educated, and then make your own decision.”
MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Tanning advice If your decision happens to be “! I want to tan!,” follow these simple steps to protect your skin. 1.) Make sure you are not taking any medication which may cause complications. 2.) Always apply loads of sunscreen. Try to cover your face completely with a towel or shirt. 3.) Talk to tanning booth operators about their bulbs and find out when they were last changed. If they were changed recently, shorten your time. 4.) Make sure the bulbs are calibrated and that the tanning booth is sterilized. Just think, a bunch of other hot, sweaty bodies were lying in the same position as you will be. 5) Always wear eye protection! Eyelids are not protective enough - you can end up with cataracts, burns and maybe even blindness. - Sharma Shields