Lifestyle
I vividly recall my senior year in high school, clutching my first tanning salon punch card from the only spot in our small Midwestern town. It was prom season, and for reasons that only my 18-year-old self could fathom, achieving a bronzed look in my prom dress felt utterly essential.
I can still picture those tiny pink sunglasses, the tanning accelerator lotion, and my fluffy towels as I climbed into what looked like a giant plastic coffin. My mission? To transform into a sun-kissed goddess, despite spending my winter shoveling snow in remote South Dakota. Looking back, I’m not sure we achieved anything more than a little vitamin D—along with a significantly heightened risk of melanoma.
Melanoma is a serious form of skin cancer that can be deadly. It may start as an innocent-looking mole that morphs and grows, ultimately invading your organs or bones. In the U.S., approximately 10,130 people succumb to melanoma each year. The Skin Cancer Foundation explains that melanoma arises “when unrepaired DNA damage to skin cells (most often caused by ultraviolet radiation from sunshine or tanning beds) triggers mutations that lead the skin cells to multiply rapidly and form malignant tumors.” If you’re curious, a quick image search will reveal some pretty alarming visuals—though I advise you to proceed with caution.
At 18, my focus was far from melanoma or potential health hazards. Instead, I was preoccupied with booking my preferred tanning time slot, as every one of my friends had their own punch card too. I wasn’t thinking about the potential for a lump in my groin or the tragic fate of someone like Jessica Cooper, who passed away at just 26. I wasn’t concerned about the young mom in Pennsylvania who faced stage 4 melanoma shortly after giving birth.
I was solely fixated on achieving that perfect glow for prom night. Honestly, I was naive.
Some may argue, “Oh, tanning beds aren’t that dangerous. I’ve gone for years and I’m fine; it’s just a bit of UV light.” But the truth is, it can be far worse than you think. Just one trip to the tanning salon boosts your risk of squamous cell carcinoma by 67%. That’s right—one visit! Shockingly, 76% of melanoma cases in people aged 18 to 29 can be traced back to tanning bed use. If you’ve used a tanning bed before age 35, your risk of developing melanoma jumps by 75%. To put this into perspective, a 2014 study published in JAMA Dermatology found that more skin cancer cases are linked to tanning than lung cancer cases due to smoking. Yes, you read that correctly!
I think it’s time to schedule an appointment with my dermatologist, and if you’ve ever stepped into a tanning bed, you might want to consider doing the same.
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In summary, while getting that golden tan might seem tempting, the risks involved with tanning beds are far too great. Protect yourself and your skin by saying no to tanning beds and considering safer alternatives.