Lifestyle
I still remember my senior year of high school vividly, especially the excitement of getting my first punch card for the only tanning salon in our small Midwestern town. As prom approached, the 18-year-old me was convinced that achieving a sun-kissed glow was essential for looking fabulous in my dress.
Armed with tiny pink sunglasses, tanning accelerator lotion, and a couple of towels, I eagerly climbed into the contraption that resembled a large plastic coffin. My goal? To look as though I had spent my winter soaking up rays at a tropical beach rather than shoveling snow in South Dakota. Unsurprisingly, my friends and I may have only succeeded in soaking up some vitamin D while significantly upping our odds of developing melanoma.
Melanoma is a serious form of skin cancer that can be deadly. It can begin as an innocuous mole that changes in shape and size, eventually spreading to vital organs and bones. Tragically, around 10,130 individuals in the U.S. lose their lives to melanoma each year. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, melanoma arises when unrepaired DNA damage to skin cells—often triggered by ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or tanning beds—causes mutations that lead to rapid cell multiplication and malignant tumors.
At 18, I wasn’t thinking about melanoma or the possibility of serious health consequences. Instead, I was preoccupied with securing my favorite time slot at the tanning bed because all my friends had punch cards too. I wasn’t worried about the potential of discovering a lump in my groin and facing a terminal diagnosis at 26 like Emily Harper. Nor was I concerned about the heartbreaking story of a young mother in Pennsylvania who succumbed to stage 4 melanoma shortly after giving birth. My only concern was getting my UV fix, as tanning can be addictive, releasing endorphins that create a brief sense of euphoria.
Many people dismiss the risks, claiming, “I’ve been tanning for years, and I’m fine.” But the facts are alarming. Just one visit to a tanning salon raises your risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma by 67%. Even more disturbing, 76% of melanoma cases among 18-to-29-year-olds can be linked to tanning beds. If you’ve used a tanning bed before the age of 35, your chance of developing melanoma increases by a staggering 75%. A 2014 study in JAMA Dermatology even revealed that skin cancer cases tied to tanning outnumber lung cancer cases due to smoking.
I think it’s time to schedule an appointment with my dermatologist. If you’ve ever frequented a tanning bed, you might want to do the same.
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Summary
Tanning beds pose serious health risks, including heightened chances of melanoma and other skin cancers. Despite the allure of a tanned appearance, many individuals are unaware of the long-term consequences associated with UV exposure. It’s crucial to prioritize skin health and seek alternatives for achieving a healthy glow.