Get out of that tanning bed!

When summer comes along, many people just can’t resist lying out in the sun to develop a deep, golden tan. Now, the summer tan is no longer limited to the summertime. The rise of the tanning bed, coupled with the idealization of tanned bodies from shows like the Jersey Shore, has led people—mostly women—to tan year round. Tanning, whether out in the sun or in an indoor tanning bed, can have harmful consequences. Here are the top seven reasons for you to quit tanning once and for all.

1.      Tanning—especially in tanning beds—can actually be habit forming and at worst, addictive. Research has shown that tanning is often habit forming, and some people show behaviors similar to drug and alcohol addicts. In a study reported by ABC News back in April, researchers found that between 30 and 40 percent of individuals who used tanning beds demonstrated the psychiatric diagnostic indicators for addiction.  Some “tanorexics” just can’t stop tanning no matter what they try, while others miss social opportunities just to tan.

1. Melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer, is highly linked to exposure to UV rays. Both tanning beds and the sun produce UVA and UVB rays, and overexposure to UV rays can cause cancer. In particular, melanoma is one of the most common cancers affecting young people, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

3.      Ultraviolet rays also cause premature aging of the skin. Yes, that means wrinkles.  UV rays break down the collagen in your skin. Collagen keeps your face smooth and wrinkle-free. Do you really want to risk turning your skin into leather just to keep up a Snooki-esque tan?

4.      Proponents of tanning have argued that exposure to sunlight and tanning bed light generates Vitamin D, which may be able to reduce the risk of certain cancers.  However, a recent study showed that high levels of vitamin D weren’t necessarily linked to reduced risk in cancer.

5.      Overexposure to the sun can also damage the DNA in your skin, leading to increased risk of skin cancer.  Tanning bulbs also prevent your body from repairing the damaged DNA, another factor that may increase cancer risks.

6.      Anyways, soaking up the sun is not the only way to increase Vitamin D intake.  Alternative sources include fish, cheese, and fortified foods like milk, as well as vitamin D supplements. Limited exposure to the sun is a good thing, but baking in tanning beds and burning in sunlight is not a good way to obtain Vitamin D.

7.      Not only does tanning hurt your health, but it can also hurt your wallet.  If you choose to tan in a tanning salon, by default you must pay for services. Add in expensive tanning lotions meant to enhance your tan. By the time you factor in the 10% tanning tax that starts July 1^st 2010, you’ve made a sizeable dent in your wallet.

The Situation with tanning does not look promising. “Fake-n-bake” tanning and sunbathing alike can be very harmful to your wallet, and most importantly, your health. If you’re not willing to cut down on your tanning habits, consider at least reducing your time under the heat lamps. If you prefer to brown outside, wear sunscreen to protect your skin. Follow Lindsay Lohan’s lead—this is probably the only time you’ll ever be told to listen to Lohan—and use sunless tanning products. Self-tanners and spray tans can give you that golden glow without harming your health.

In another one of my blogs, I outlined the reasons why you should quit tanning once and for all. I mainly focused on the health risks associated with tanning, including skin cancer and premature aging. One important new tax to know about is the tan tax, a tax on indoor tanning services that began on July 1 2010.

A tax on indoor tanning will help pay for healthcare reform

To fund the 2010 Affordable Care act, the federal government will now levy a 10 percent tax on indoor tanning, which started on July 1^st.  Spray tans and other sunless tanning products will not be taxed under the new legislation.  The tanning tax is expected to generate 2.7 billion dollars towards health care reform.  Dermatologists and other advocates hope that the tanning tax will dissuade people from baking their skin in indoor tanning beds.

Why tax tanning?

To begin with, countless dermatological studies have shown that tanning has a negative impact on the body. Exposure to UV rays damages the skin’s DNA, leaving people more than three times more likely to develop skin cancers like melanoma.  Although many skin cancers can be treatable, melanoma is the most deadly skin cancer—as well as the most common type of skin cancer found in young people. Indoor tanning beds can also contribute to premature aging of the skin, causing younger people to develop wrinkly or leathery looking skin. A young survivor of skin cancer who tanned in his youth even wants to ban tanning for minors because of health risks.

Initially, cosmetic surgery procedures were the victims of the tax—known as the “Botax” for the popular Botox procedure, until dermatologists successfully lobbied Congress to hit indoor tanning beds instead.

Still, tanning businesses fear that the new tax will put a damper on their fun in the sun. Before the 10% tax went into effect, many small businesses expressed their concern over the tax’s impact on business. Although tanning packages purchased at tanning salons will be exposed to the tax, health clubs that also feature tanning beds are exempt from the new legislation. One famous tanning salon patron, the Jersey Shore’s majestically orange Snooki, claimed that she would stop using tanning beds for good because of the tax, and use spray tan services instead. Other tanners said that the tax wouldn’t affect their tanning habits.

Other businesses claim that they have already noticed a drop off in sales. According to an article in the Washington Post, one tanning salon in Arlington, Virginia noticed a 20 to 30 percent drop off in business since the recession, and anticipated worse since the tanning tax went into effect July.  Then again, it is July, the height of beach season, when indoor fake n’ bake tanning really isn’t necessary, which could factor into that sales decline.

While time will tell how hard the tax will hit the tanning industry, I feel tanning salons should not be the only establishments subject to the tax.  By exempting fitness centers from taxation, the government is really squeezing the tanning industry. Still, the tax may serve as an additional incentive—including health—for people to stop tanning once and for all.

Summertime and warm weather means a lot of time spent outdoors in the sun.  More exposure to the sun and its UV rays means you are going to need greater protection for your skin.  The solution to that may seem easy – just put on sunscreen.  However, choosing the right sunscreen is a bit more complex than it may seem.  There are so many options to consider when choosing a sunscreen, other than just SPF.  We have answers to get you more informed and help you make an educated decision when choosing your sunscreen.

Remember to Reapply!

To begin, the amount of SPF protection in sunscreen ranges from SPF 2 to SPF 100+!  SPF is an abbreviation for Sun Protection Factor.  This measures the length of time the sunscreen will protect you from getting sunburn, compared to not wearing any sunscreen.  For example, SPF 15 will protect you from getting sunburn 15 times longer than if you did not use sunscreen.  You may think that SPF 30 would give you double protection as SPF 15 from the sun, but it does not work that way.  When choosing sun protection, you need to consider the sun’s UV rays.

UVB rays are what cause you to get sunburn.  UVA rays have more long terms damage on your skin, like skin cancer and wrinkles.  SPF 15 blocks 94% of UVB rays and SPF 30 blocks 97% of UVB rays – now that’s not double the protection!  There are many things this information brings you to consider when choosing a sunscreen.  First of all, it’s the UVA rays that cause skin cancer, so you want to find a sunscreen with more than just the SPF protection from UVB rays.  You want one that protects against both UVA and UVB rays.  Generally, theses types of sunscreens are labeled as “broad spectrum”.   Look on the label for ingredients such as avobenzone, ecamsule, or zinc oxide.  Also, UVB rays allow natural Vitamin D into your body.  So, you must be careful not to get Vitamin D deficiency from wearing too much sunscreen and completely blocking this vitamin from getting to your system.

Now that you know what the SPF levels mean, you need to choose a sunscreen that is best for you.  If you have lighter skin, you will obviously need an SPF that has stronger and longer protection from the sun’s UV rays.  But, Dermatologists do not recommend high SPFs just to people with lighter skin tones.  They recommend that everyone uses a higher SPF (check out the most Dermatologist Recommended Brands).  The higher the SPF, the greater protection you will have from harmful UV rays.  Even if you wear a higher SPF you should still stick to the recommended guidelines for reapplying your sunscreen.

Research shows that you get the best protection from you sunscreen if you apply it 15-30 minutes before going into the sun and then reapply after being in the sun for 15-30 minutes.  Then, you should reapply sunscreen every two hours because the ingredients protecting against UVA rays break down rather quickly when exposed to the sun’s rays.  If you go in the water or sweat, you will need to reapply the sunscreen.  Waterproof sunscreen is available; but, follow the instructions carefully because this too will need reapplication.  In addition to sunscreen, there are other things you can wear to protect yourself from the sun’s UV rays, like clothes, hats, and make-up.