This month’s Watchdog report comes to us from the West Coast. The UCSF Health website actually provided some really good suggestions on UV exposure and skin cancer.
(ucsfhealth.org/education/skin-cancer-prevention)
I took the opportunity to offer this to IST readers, as seldom seen is the fair and balanced report on tanning and sunlight. The article opens with a great, but often maligned fact: “The majority of sun exposure occurs before age 18.” This statement is factual and provides a wonderful “connect the dots” opportunity. For years, our industry has been attacked with out-of-context quotes, such as “just one sunbed exposure increases your risk of melanoma 20 times,” largely claiming that indoor tanning is primarily responsible for increases in skin cancer rates. Well, as the number of indoor tanning facilities in our country has declined over the last 5-10 years, there should be an ancillary decline in skin cancer diagnoses, right? Fewer salons and fewer indoor tanners should equal a decline.
I’m not a doctor (nor do I play one on TV), but I would fathom that there would be a decline in skin cancer if indoor tanning plays such a large role. But never once has this been touted or even suggested in the media! I would also go out on a limb and say that the indoor tanning professionals are among the most knowledgeable when it comes to providing skin care information, as well as possessing an understanding of the risk of overexposure and sunburn.
The website states that the majority of a person’s sun exposure is obtained before they are 18 years old and that the average demographic of indoor tanners is an 18-35-year-old woman, AND most states prohibit use of indoor tanning facilities for persons under the age of 18. Again, please connect the dots! Hello?
Look at the tips on safe UV exposure offered by the article’s author:
- Avoid direct sunlight as much as possible during the peak sun hours, generally 10am-3pm.
- Wear broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.
- Reapply sunscreen frequently, at least every two hours when outdoors.
- Wear lip balm with an SPF15 or higher.
- Wear a hat and other protective clothing while in the sun.
- Wear UV-protective sunglasses.
None of these tips mentions staying out of tanning beds … interesting!
Millions of people weigh the risk and benefit of UV exposure and choose to acquire a cosmetic tan at a professional indoor tanning facility, where session times are delivered according to individual skin type and controlled by a timer to minimize the risk of overexposure and sunburn. Vive la difference!
