Monday, September 13, 2010

The Risks of Artificial Rays

What you should know about your un-healthy glow!

As the summer slowly fades away, so will your beautiful tan.  Many ladies hop into tanning beds to keep a healthy looking glow throughout each season.  Unfortunately, what appears to be a healthy glow is extremely damaging to your skin!

Sharon Miller, a FDA scientist and an expert on UV radiation says, “A tan is the skin’s reaction to exposure to UV rays.  Recognizing exposure to the rays as an ‘insult’, the skin acts in self-defense by producing more melanin, a pigment that darkens the skin.  Over time this damage will lead to prematurely aged skin and, in some cases, skin cancer.”

There are two different types of ultraviolet rays to watch out for!  UV-A Rays penetrate and damage the deeper layers of the skin, while UV-B rays penetrate the top layer of your skin causing sunburns.   Both of these harmful rays are emitted in tanning bed sunlamps. 

Excessive exposure to these UV rays increases the risk of developing skin cancer.  Even the deadliest of them all, Melanoma, has been linked to sunburns caused by indoor tanning.  The IARC (International Agency of Cancer Research) previously categorized tanning beds as “probably carcinogenic to humans”, but in 2009 after further research they were moved to the highest risk category: “carcinogenic to humans”. 

The IARC also believes the risk of melanoma increases by 75% when tanning bed usage starts before the age of 35 and it is the 2nd most common cancer found in women is their 20‘s! 

Tanning not only increases your chances to develop skin cancer, it also causes premature aging.  Your skin will lose elasticity causing wrinkles at a younger age. Because these side effects aren’t noticeable until years after the exposure, it is difficult for young women to realize the severe consequences of tanning...until it is too late.

Though it is in your very best interest to avoid artificial UV rays all together, if you choose to continue your normal tanning regiment here’s a few very important things you should remember:
  Wear your goggles.  If you forget them, ask for Winkies! Failure to do so can lead to short or long-term eye injuries.
  Don’t over do it.  A sunburn takes up to 48 hours to develop; you may not realize you are burnt to a crisp until it’s too late!
  Always be sure to follow the manufacturers recommended exposure time for your skin type to avoid burning.

To keep a truly “healthy” glow throughout the year, check out our blog entry below on what we believe to be the best of best in sunless tanners.  Utilizing a good self-tanner will give you the look of a beautiful tan while decreasing your risk of skin cancer. Who wouldn’t want to maintain youthful looking skin while flaunting a golden goddess glow!  

For more advice on how to keep your skin looking its very best call Aesthetic Enhancements today to schedule a complimentary consultation with our Paramedical Aesthetician! 



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