from the Spring 2005 issue
Dr. Leigh Ellen Eubanks recently gave a talk about her favorite myths or misperceptions that patients have about their skin and skin care. One is that a base tan is good for you and protects your skin. This base tan idea is one promulgated by the Indoor Tanning Association, a trade and lobbying group for indoor tanning manufacturers, distributors, facility owners, and members from other support industries. On its website, ITA states, “A tan is the body’s natural protection against sunburn. Your skin is designed to tan as a natural body function. [A base tan] enables vacationers to gradually increase their exposure to ultraviolet light in a non-burning fashion.” This opinion stands in stark contrast to the position of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). The AAD states, “UV radiation from the sun, tanning beds, or sun lamps may cause skin cancer. While skin cancer has been associated with sunburn, moderate tanning may also produce the same effect. UV radiation can also have a damaging effect on the immune system and cause premature aging of the skin, giving it a wrinkled, leathery appearance.”
Dr. S. Elizabeth Whitmore, Associate Professor of Dermatology, Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, conducted a study in 2001 on the effects of indoor tanning on the skin. That study showed that the UV exposure received from a tanning bed might be just as harmful to the skin as outdoor sun exposure and lead to the same molecular changes believed to be necessary for the development of skin cancer. “There is no such thing as a safe tan,” says Dr. Whitmore, “a suntan is the skin’s response to an injury, and every time you tan you accumulate damage to the skin, as well as accelerate the aging process and increase your risk for skin cancer. As long as indoor tanning for cosmetic effects is permitted in this country, there needs to be increased educational efforts informing the public of the risks of this type of tanning.”
The ITA estimates that as many as one out of every 10 Americans will visit an indoor tanning facility this year. In particular, the use of the salons by teens has grown significantly in recent years. The big concern is the link to skin cancer and its most dangerous form, melanoma, especially among younger women. The annual incidence of melanoma in the U.S. rose to 8.7 per 100,000 for women age 15 to 34 in 2001, up from 7.3 per 100,000 just 10 years ago, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Besides the risk of skin cancer, tanning ages the skin. A common lament of many of our patients is the sun exposure that they got during their youth and the damage it has done to their skin. The effects of sun damage that we treat in our office include fine lines and wrinkles, age spots and pigment changes, telangiectasia (blood vessels), enlarged pores, roughness, lack of elasticity (collagen loss), dryness, and uneven skin tone.
So what’s the alternative if you or your teen want to be tanned? There are really two safe, UV-free ways of getting that golden glow. First, many spas and salons offer spray tans. This treatment applies an FDA-approved ingredient that reacts with the skin to give a tanned appearance. The other alternative is tanning creams. Many use the same ingredient as spray tans. Most are available over the counter. Protecting your skin from damaging UV rays will preserve your natural beauty and decrease your risk of skin cancer.
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