Tanning Bed Danger

Factual Questions
1

Yes, I’m an idiot. I’m 35 years old and I’ve always been an ANTI tan type person. In fact, I like to joke that I’ve learned to love my “dealthly palor” since I’m quite pale and just don’t tend to tan…I don’t spend the time TRYING to tan.

But this year after losing a ton of weight and gaining a more revealing wardrobe, I wanted a little bronze.

I’ve read some stuff…and heard it on NPR…recently about how the whole skin cancer/sun scare is a bit over stated. Yes, too much sun gives you wrinkles, etc. But the really dangerous type of skin cancer is NOT caused by the sun (according to what I read/heard) and people generally get such cancers in places that haven’t been in the sun anyway.

So, I spent two sessions in a tanning bed. Ten minutes one day, 15 the next. That makes 25 minutes in 35 years. You know…not including the sun burns i got as a teenager, etc.

Does anyone know where I can find out exactly HOW dangerous this really is? I don’t mean fear-mongering stuff, but REAL statistics on the problems that are caused by tanning beds versus people who never set foot (or ass) in one?

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

L

2

It shouldn’t be significantly more or less dangerous than the sun, but you’re probably better off in the sun since you’re actually breathing fresh air. Just a WAG though.

3

Yes, but I’m also showing the world my fat ass in a bathing suit. Still think they’re comparable?

4

Tanning bed use is about as dangerous as outdoor sun exposure.

More from the American Academy of Dermatology.

As with outdoor sun exposure, the risk (apart from things like eye damage from lack of proper protection and burns from acute overexposure) of consequences like melanoma is cumulative. A little exposure might be good for you, a lot detracts from skin appearance and heightens risk of several cancers.

It’s not “fear-mongering”, just the facts. Dermatologists make more money if there’s a lot of skin cancer, but they’d rather see it prevented as much as possible.