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The Dark Side of
Indoor Tanning
In American culture, a great looking tan is belived to be
the sign of beauty and health. To coincide with fast paced
American culture, tanning salons seem to be the perfect and
convenient solution to achieving a great looking tan all year
long.
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Contrary to popular belief, a tan is the skin's reaction to sun damage
and when exposed to UVA and UVB rays, the skin produces pigment called
melanin to protect itself from burning. Before you head indoors to
achieve an outdoors look, find out why this may not be the healthiest
alternative.
- Limit your Exposure. Indoor tanning can be just as harmful
to your skin as tanning outside. According to The Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), more than 1 million people visit tanning
salons daily. What the public may not know, is tanning devices
produce UV rays that are just as, if not more powerful than the
sun. Overexposure to these rays can cause eye injury, premature
wrinkling of the skin, skin rashes and increase your risk of developing
skin cancer.
- Look at Your Medications. In combination with UV rays,
some medications like antibiotics, birth control pills, cosmetics
and soaps can accelerate sunburns and produce other reactions,
such as rashes. It is also important to understand that tanning
devices may also induce light-sensitive injuries like cold sores.
Symptoms of certain medical conditions and autoimmune diseases
can be aggravated by the use of tanning devices. It is important
to consult your physician before you use a tanning device.
- Always Use Protective Goggles. According to the FDA,
all tanning salons are required to distribute safety goggles to
their customers. According to the American Optometric Association,
studies have shown that long-term exposure to UV light can result
in eye damage to the cornea and retina. Repeated UV exposure without
protective goggles can change the structure of the lens causing
cloudiness and cataracts. Closing your eyes, or wearing ordinary
sunglasses does not protect the eyes from concentrated
UV exposure found in tanning devices. Make sure your protective
goggles fit snug around your face and are sterilized properly
to prevent the spread of eye infections.
Try a healty alternative: The benefits
of sunless tanning
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