Too Much Fun in the Sun?

It may be winter, but whether it's fake and bake, tinted cream or a natural glow, some stars take sun loving to a new extreme. Television personality Kelly Ripa not only keeps up her ultra-toned body, but she also manages to keep up a dark orange glow.

When singer Christina Aguilera arrived at an event, many wondered whether she had fallen asleep in a tanning booth and then piled on the tanning cream. Well, if she's going for the beach-blond look, she certainly succeeded.

Which is more neon, Victoria Beckham's dress or her seriously bronzed skin? The style icon made sure her complexion was fashion-mag-ready when she attended the a fashion show in NYC.
Britney Spears' trips to the tanning booth seem to come nearly as often as her trips to Starbucks, which the paparazzi so loyally documents. However, the fallen pop star was looking a bit splotchy at a fashion event.

Utah Tax on Indoor Tanning Facilities Sparks Interest and Controversy

In today’s society, having tanned skin is a necessity that has been widely popularized by the media. Rarely are fair-skinned actors and actresses seen gracing the covers of fashion magazines or the stars of hit television shows. Is it any wonder that tanning has become an epidemic in this country with negative influences being constantly viewed by the nation’s teenagers?

Nearly 2 million Americans tan indoors each day, with the number of individual users in the United States having doubled to nearly 30 million in the past decade. With staggering rates that promise only to increase, many possible solutions have been proposed to alter the negative behavior but only few have sparked real interest and possibility for change.

Lawmakers are considering a bill that would impose a 10 percent tax on admission fees charged by tanning salons to fund melanoma research. Under House Bill 419, sponsored by Rep. Mel Brown, R-Coalville, revenue from the tax would go to the Utah Department of Health, which would award research grants for the study of melanoma.
The tax would bring in an estimated $620,000 per year and would be levied starting July 1, 2009. The bill has yet to be voted on by a legislative committee but is already causing controversy among Utah citizens, especially frequent tanners and owners of tanning salons.

Several individuals in the tanning salon business say the bill singles out only one possible contributing factor to melanoma. In order to compensate for the extra expenses the tax will create, tanning salons say they would likely pass the Tanning salons also say that they would likely pass the costs on to their customers. This change of price may cause those who are frequent tanning bed users to rethink their habits.

Although this potential tax may pose problems for both owners of tanning salons and costumers, it may also be one of the only proposed programs that could prove positive results. Individuals are extremely persuaded by financial benefits and restrictions when it comes to all aspects of life, particularly extracurricular activities. Most people recognize the need to budget limited amounts of money on necessary items (i.e. food, housing, transportation, etc.) before secondary activities. Tanning falls into the category of a secondary extracurricular activity. It is not necessary for survival to maintain a golden tan.

Though furthering legislation on activities and companies that pose threat to health and livelihood may be the best chance there is to combat the harmful use of tanning beds, it is still critical that health professionals continue to develop programs that reach the consumers on a more personal and individual level as well.

It is important that health professionals instill a desire to alter negative behaviors that support bills currently being discussed by state and national legislation. Providing an individual with a desire to change will create an easier path for policies to come about and provide effectiveness when catering to specific demographics.

Until society can develop healthy skincare habits, it will be nearly impossible for the rates of skin cancer via tanning bed use to decrease. In the meantime, it is important that continual education to local and federal representatives of the harmful effects of tanning be maintained. Utah’s state legislation is ahead of the game when it comes to the prevention of skin cancer development through artificial means.

Myths About Tanning

I found it interesting after researching this topic to discover that so many individuals believe well-known tanning myths. Hopefully through the creation of this blog those people will be able to realize the truths about the harmful effects of indoor tanning bed use. Here are some of the myths I have come across in my research:

• Tanning indoors is safer than tanning out in natural sunlight.
• Ultraviolet Beds that emit “A” Rays are safer because they don’t damage your skin like UV “B” Rays.
• Tanning is good for my skin.
• Tanning only occasionally, doesn’t damage my skin like it would if I went all the time.
• Tanning companies have to meet certain expectations by the FDA, and so they’re safe to use.

To find out the reality of tanning bed use check out the article on The American Cancer Society's website.

Frequently Asked Questions on Skin Cancer

1. How do sunburns relate to tanning and cancer?

a. One blistering sunburn during childhood (happens to many first time tanners) more than doubles the chance of an individual getting skin cancer later in life. (Skin Cancer Foundation, 2008)

2. Why should I be concerned about tanning?

a. Less than 1/3 of teens practice effective sun protection practices and less than half use sunscreen, all these practices lead to an increased chance for cancer.(Skin Cancer Foundation, 2008)

3. How many teens use sunscreen?

a. Less than half of all teens use sunscreen. (Skin Cancer Foundation, 2008)

4. What is Melanoma?

a. Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer, which begins in a skin cell called a melanocyte. Melanocytes known as melanin produce skin pigmentation that provides the natural skin color. Melanocytes produce large amounts of melanin as part of the tanning process when exposed to sunlight trying to help protect the skin from burning. But these groups of melanocytes in the skin can become cancerous and spread to other parts of the body.(Cancer Research Institute, 2008)

5. How can I spot melanoma?

a. Remember the ABCD’s of Melanoma. A = asymmetrical. Melanoma spots usually have an irregular shape whereas moles are usually round (symmetrical). B = border. The border of a melanoma skin spot will be patchy and uneven and moles usually have smooth borders. C = color. Melanoma patches usually have several shades of black and brown but moles usually will be just one shade of brown. D = diameter. Melanoma spots will often be larger than the size of a pencil eraser (1/4 inch) and moles are often smaller. (CDC, 2004)

6. Who is at Risk?

a. Through exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation the sun is thought to be the main cause of melanoma. Because of this, people with fair skin, red hair, has freckles and those with blue/ green eyes tend to sunburn easily because their skin cells tend to have less melanin. It is important to protect yourself between 10:00am and 3:00pm when the sun rays are the strongest. When exposed to the sun, even during the winter months, sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher is recommended to apply to all exposed skin. Wearing wide-brimmed hats, long-sleeved shirts and long pants help to protect yourself. Children, Infants and teens may not see the long-term damaging effects for many years and blistering sunburns during childhood is found to be a major contributing factor to developing melanoma later on in life. Special sunscreens are available and are found to be effective in protecting children. (Cancer Research Institute, 2008)

7. Where do skin cancers most commonly occur?

a. Melanoma and non-melanoma cancers can occur anywhere on the body. Basal and squamous cell cancers usually appear in regions of the body that are exposed to constant sunlight over a period of years, which is a common concern for outside laborers like farmers. The areas are typically the face, head, neck, arms and back of hands. Melanoma, on the other hand, is more likely to occur on regions of the body that experience intense and infrequent exposure to sun, for example from sunbathing or going on vacation in sunny areas. The areas most affected by melanoma are the chest for men, and the backs of lower legs for women. (CDC, 2004)

8. Which brands of sunscreen are the most effective?

a. The Environmental Working Group recently did a study of more than 1,000 brands of sunscreen and found the most effective and least hazardous to be the following brands: Blue Lizard, California Baby, CVS, Kiss My Face and Walgreens Zinc Oxide. Some of the worst offenders were the popular brands, Coppertone, Banana Boat, and Neutrogena. (Houlihan, 2007)

9. What should I look for in an effective sunscreen?

a. The best sunscreens will say on the bottle they protect against both UVA and UVB rays. The ingredients should also be free of harmful chemicals such as oxybenzone. (Houlihan, 2007)

10. How can I perform a thorough self examination for skin cancer?

a. Participate in regular self-checks of the skin to determine if there are any new abnormalities present that did not exist prior to your last self-check. In order to perform an accurate and thorough self-examination, a full-length mirror, a hand mirror, and well-lighted room are necessary. To complete self exam:

• Examine your body front and back in the mirror.
• Stretch and bend arms, paying close attention to the elbows and palms of your hands.
• Look at your legs and feet, especially between your toes and bottom of soles.
• Examine your back and buttocks with a hand mirror.
• Look at your neck and scalp with a hand mirror (use a blow dryer to move hair on your scalp).

It is important to report any suspicious or abnormal spots or moles to your doctor. Make sure your doctor looks at your skin during routine physical exams as well(The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, 2008).

Resources

Cancer Research Institute. (2008). Conquering Melanoma: Prevent it, Spot it, Treat it. Retrieved January 26, 2009, from Cancer Research Institute: http://cancerresearch.org/Resources.aspx?id=192

CDC. (2004, August 24). EXCITE Skin Cancer Module. Retrieved January 28, 2009, from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/EXCITE/skincancer/mod10.htm

Houlihan, J. (2007). Comments from EWG on the U.S. FDA's Proposed Amendment of Final Monograph for Sunscreens. Environmental Working Group. Washington: Environmenal Working Group.

Skin Cancer Foundation. (2008). Quick Facts About Teen Tanning. Retrieved February 2, 2009, from Skin Cancer Foundation: http://www.skincancer.org/quick-facts-about-teen-tanning.html

The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. (2008). Skin Cancer FAQ. Retrieved February 2, 2009, from The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center: http://jamesline.com/cancertypes/skin/faq/Pages/index.aspx

Donatella Versace

I'm not sure for most individuals, but for me, pictures of Donatella Versace are extreme motivators for me to stay out of the sun and tan free! It is really sad to see a 53-year-old woman look as if she has the skin of a woman twenty years older.