Mid Brain reports:
We’ve blogged before about the safety of tanning and the controversy surged ahead this week with the announcement by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) that elevated the risk of sunbeds from “probably carcinogenic” to “carcinogenic to humans.” Speculation is running rampant: Will this spell the end of the tanning bed industry as we know it? Will cosmetic companies begin a mad rush for new higher SPF products to please fearful consumers? Or, will the news inspire a new generation of pale anti-tan beauties?
Damned if you tan, damned if you don’t
No one knows for sure, but it seems likely that being tan will remain a beauty goal for many consumers despite the risks. Further complicating the matter is the consumer buzz regarding the role sun exposure plays in vitamin D production and how increased sunscreen use could lead to a vitamin D deficiency. The article cites a recent survey by Neutrogena that says a third of Americans are ‘somewhat concerned’ that sunblocks will lead to vitamin D deficiency.
The Beauty Brains bottom line
It will be interesting to see how scientific data will influence how this controversy plays out. We’ll keep you posted as events unfold. In the meantime, avoid excess sun exposure. Or not.
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I guess I don’t understand why tanning is so bad. Okay, I do kind of get it. It does seem silly to make it a blanket statement and say”tanning is bad for everyone.” I have a particular skintone. If I even think of being in the sun, I tan. I can get a dark tan after sitting in the sun for 15 minutes. I rarely burn. For me to burn, I need to be in full sun, all day. Like at the beach or on a boat. Sometimes I wear sunscreen, most often I do not. I am in my very late thirties. I have no sun damage. People think I am ten years younger than I am.
I do get tired of all the anti-tan hype. It really does seem to be directed at the “majority” who is pale and easily burns.
Any thoughts?
Tanning causes skin cancer, Pavlina, that’s a fact. And untreated skin cancer can lead to other cancers. My paternal grandmother died of a brain tumor that they believe started as skin cancer.
Not that you can’t get it other ways. Moles can turn cancerous too. But it seems like getting a tan is the most likely way to do it.
I never saw tans as attractive anyway. But maybe that’s because I went through a vampire obsession as a teenager.
There really shouldn’t be much of an issue between vitamin D and tanning because you can get sufficient D from like, half an hour a week in the sun. So if you walk to work or walk to the bus, don’t put on sunscreen then. But for a day at the beach, yes. And I think tanning beds are a stupid idea for anything more than “I need an even tan for this important day.”
Pavlina, first off, you don’t know what kind of damage the sun has done to your skin as it goes much deeper than the surface. You might want to consider going to a dermatologist to see what sort of damage has been done. Because there is damage.
Becka, tanning is a bad idea even for an “important day”. You can get an even tan by getting an airbrush tan if it is that important.
My dad had a mole that turned cancerous. He was the big hunter/fisherman/”sunscreen is for wimps”. The mole was right next to his eye. Now that is fun (hear the dripping sarcasm)–laser removal of cancer next to your eye. Needless to say he is now “real men wear sunblock”.
Yeah … once you say it’s okay for an important day, then you jsut start labelling everything an important day. It’s just not a healthy thing to do. Too much downside.
I’m still not convinced. I’m six times less likely to get skin cancer than the fair. Couple that with my cave like existence at work and occasional outside activities, I’m not too worried. I probably have a higher chance of getting cancer from all the chemicals I work with on a daily basis.
Pavlina, genetics is the door, environment is the key that opens that door. Blacks and dark-skinned asians and hispanics get skin cancer, too if they are genetically prone to it and environmental conditions allow it. Unless you have had a workup by a geneticist, stay out of the sun or use sunscreen REGARDLESS of how dark you get.
Give it a couple more years. Trust me…you’ll start looking much older before your time.
There’s no doubt that tans make you look thinner. Period. But I don’t think getting that tan artificially is the way. The sun is actually incredibly healthy…you just need it in moderation (like most things) and make sure you use a safe, healthy sunscreen.