Tanning beds increase the risk of skin cancer

Dear Mayo Clinic, My daughter and her friends all talk about going for a tan. I've suggested to my daughter to sunbathe, but I do not think she's convinced because she has the impression that tanning beds are relatively safe. Is there a safe type of tanning bed that will not damage the skin?

A: There is no safe tanning bed and there is no tanning bed that does not damage the skin. Encourage your daughter to completely avoid the tanning beds. Choosing a tanning spray instead to get the look that she wants for the prom is a much better option that will not hurt her skin.

Because tanning beds have been around for so long, many people think that using them for sunbathing is safer than exposure to the sun. This is not true. Exposure to ultraviolet or ultraviolet rays damages your skin, whether the exposure comes from tanning beds or natural sunlight.

The type of ultraviolet radiation emitted by most tanning beds is called "UVA". UVA exposure ages prematurely on the skin, causing wrinkles and age spots. It also increases the risk of skin cancer, including melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer.

Due to health risks, the Food and Drug Administration now requires all tanning beds to carry a warning label stating that persons under 18 years of age should not use them. Several states have laws against children and adolescents using tanning beds. Many dermatologists would like tanning beds to be banned for everyone.

There is a common misconception that using a tanning bed before a tropical vacation to get what is sometimes called a "basic tan" protects against sunburn once. that the person reaches the sunny destination. There is no basis in fact here. Using a tanning bed before spending a lot of time in the sun simply means that you are exposing yourself to more UV rays. The best way to prevent sunburn is to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor, or SPF, of at least 30, and reapply it often. For better skin protection, combine sunscreen with a wide-brimmed hat and wear sunglbades and other sun-protective clothing.

The truth is that there is no healthy tan, tan or sun. An artificial tan from a spray or lotion is a much better option. The active ingredient in tanning aerosols and other sunless tanning products, such as lotions and creams, is the dihydroxyacetone dye additive. When applied to the skin, it reacts with dead skin cells on the surface of the skin to temporarily darken the skin and simulate a tan. The color usually disappears after a few days.

Do not forget that most sunless tanning products do not contain sunscreen and that the color produced by a sunless tanning product does not protect your skin from UV rays. If you use a sunless tanning product and spend time outside, you still need a broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect your skin from UV rays.

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