Many of my peers enjoy using tanning beds.
Some do it every once in a while or for special occasions
while others go more often.
It may seem harmless to use a tanning bed every once in a while
but it is far more harmful than you think...
.
Tanning beds produce UVA and UVB rays which can damage not only the top epidermal layer
of your skin,
but also the deep dermal layers of your skin.
The deep layers of your skin is where your cells are alive and reproducing.
The top layer of your skin is where the cells are dead and eventually become exfoliated.
Damage to the deep layers of your skin can stop cell regrowth which can lead to skin cancer.
When your skin is exposed to these harmful rays,
melanin (a brown pigment) is produced by enzymes
causing the skin to appear darker to stop any further damage.
However, not all enyzmes repair the damage done to your skin.
Some mutate increasing your risk of skin cancer.
Not only are tanning beds harmful for your skin, they are harmful on the eyes as well.
Excessive tanning can cause eye cancer called:
-Ocular melanoma that is directly caused from UV ray exposure.
More treatable eye problems can result such as:
-Photokeratitis (a burnt/inflammed cornea-front surface of eye)
-Photoconjunctivitis (inflammed conjunctiva-membrane inside eyelids/eye socket)
Chronic eye problems can also result:
-Cataracts: visual impairment and growths on eye (pterygerium or tumors)
BUT WAIT! I haven't even talked about aging yet!
Exposure to UV rays cause premature skin aging (called photoaging)
(depending on how often you go, it makes you look older earlier) *gasp*
Your skin develops a leathery look to it and it also
wrinkles, sags the skin and can cause sun spots.
The use of a tanning bed before the age of 35
causes your risk of melanoma (deadliest form of skin cancer) to rise by 75%.
Even one bad sunburn as a kid doubles your chances of melanoma!
The Food and Drug Admin.istration,
World Health Organization,
and American Academy of Dermatology
all consider tanning beds unsafe.
So next time you think you are too pale for your own existence,
try a self-tanner or spray tan instead!
(this is my favorite one)
You get the same healthy glow without the harmful damage to your young and beautiful skin !
And don't forget a DAILY facial moisturizer with SPF!
xoxo Stephanie
