Skincare and Healthy Tanning: Inconvenient Truth about the Pro-Tanning Hype in Skin Care Industry

Sacramento, CA (PRWEB) July 2, 2008 -- So is tanning horrible for your skin or healthy for it? With advertising on both sides of the argument, it's tough to figure out whose claims are actually accurate. Skincare-News.com's latest article, "Pro-Tanning Campaign HYPE: Healthy Tanning," makes sense of it all with direct quotes from the tanning industry, dermatologists and skin cancer specialists.

http://www.skincare-news.com/articles.php?ArtID=636

About the campaign

It's been drilled into our heads for years: Too much sun can lead to wrinkles, premature aging and even deadly cancers. But a recent campaign is attempting to change the public's view about the sun, encouraging people that tanning, in moderation, isn't just safe but a healthy and necessary practice.

Largely responsible for this campaign is the Indoor Tanning Association (ITA), a group made up of indoor tanning manufacturers and distributors. Claiming that it advocates "responsible" tanning and "sunburn prevention," the ITA's Web site, Sunlightscam.com, presents a multi-faceted argument that promotes deliberate tanning. In addition, the Smart Tan organization (Tanningtruth.com) also offers additional information on why tanning is essential.

The UV and melanoma connection

ITA's claim: "Since the 1970s, groups like the Skin Cancer Foundation and the American Cancer Society--which both received funding from sunscreen companies--have campaigned to increase awareness of skin cancer. Chief among their advice is to get regular skin cancer screenings. As a result, the supposed "epidemic" is most likely the result of increased screenings, not an increase in actual skin cancer rates."

Why it's questionable: Yes, people have taken the warnings seriously and, today, dermatologists are better able to detect early cancers. But if early detection is becoming more common, why are deaths due to melanoma not decreasing? Skin and Aging finds that not only are skin cancer diagnoses steadily rising, but skin cancer associated deaths are increasing as well.

ITA's claim: "Evidence linking getting a tan--either from the sun or from tanning beds--to melanoma is scant at best and demonstrably misleading at worst. The best science indicates that there is no connection between tanning and cancer, but that hasn't stopped the sunscreen companies from using it to sell their products."

Why it's questionable: While the ITA tries to prove there's no connection between UV rays and cancer, organizations worldwide recognize that the evidence points to a strong link. Dermatologist Diane Baker, M.D., tells Skin and Aging that "It&rquo;s true that there hasn't been any direct, linear link between UV exposure and melanoma, but we do know that ultraviolet light is a carcinogen in and of itself. The evidence directly linking UV light damage to basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma is much stronger [than for melanoma, but that's bad enough."

The bottom line: Just as cigarette companies will argue that there's no direct link between tobacco and lung cancer, the tanning bed industry will offer evidence against a connection between UV rays and cancer.

On "safe" tanning

Smart Tan's Claim: "What is sometimes called 'damage' to the skin from non-burning UV exposure is actually just the skin's way of protecting itself from sunburn. If your body can develop a tan, doing so is natural. It is what your body is designed to do. It is one of the ways your body protects itself."

Why it's questionable: The idea that sun exposure, short of a sunburn, isn't damaging the skin is simply untrue. Jody A. Levine, M.D., tells WebMD: "Skin cancer comes from a mutation of DNA in the skin cells. A sunburn is not a sign you have mutated the DNA. It is very possible to damage your skin without a burn...It is the UVB radiation that is more likely to cause a sunburn, and UVA -- used in most sun beds -- causes deeper skin damage leading to skin cancer."

The case against indoor tanning

ITA's claim: "While getting too much sun has been linked to some forms of cancer, indoor tanning is a government-approved, controlled environment designed to give you a tan without ever burning--which is the likely culprit in contracting cancer from sun exposure."

Why it's questionable: The so-called control, courtesy of tanning booths, doesn't protect against cancer: Darrell Rigel, M.D., of the American Academy of Dermatology tells ABC News, "We're seeing a dramatic increase in melanoma rates in young women. And the only behavior difference between young women and young men is the fact young women are four times more likely to go to a tanning salon." Cancer is a disease that takes decades to develop, so the fact that more and more young people are being diagnosed with it is an alarming wakeup call that tanning beds -- whose users include large numbers of teenage girls -- are a source of the problem.

The bottom line: Although the idea of a "controlled environment" might mean that an individual can use a tanning bed without ever burning, remember that a person doesn't need a sunburn to damage the skin; tanned skin is damaged skin. Controlled environment or not, UV rays are considered carcinogens. According to the AAD, UV radiation from indoor tanning "can lead to skin aging, immune suppression and eye damage, including cataracts and ocular melanoma."

The true meaning of "moderation"

Smart Tan's claim: "The professional indoor tanning industry's scientifically supported position is summed up in this declaration: Moderate tanning, for individuals who can develop a tan, is the smartest way to maximize the potential benefits of sun exposure while minimizing the potential risks associated with either too much or too little sunlight."

Why it's questionable: It's true that some sun is healthy -- 15 minutes a day max to get adequate vitamin D from sunlight -- but this doesn't mean that people need to seek out the sun from tanning beds or trips to the beach.

The bottom line: People don't need to participate in "moderate tanning" to be healthy. In fact, any deliberate tanning is harmful. Limiting time spent in the sun and supplementing the diet with sources high in vitamin D will not only save a person's skin, but it might save their life as well.

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About SkinCare-News.com -- "Your Source for Intelligent Skin Care"

Skincare-News.com is the online source for consumers seeking intelligent beauty and skin care news, advice, tips and articles. Founded in 2005, SkinCare-News.com features articles, news items and frequently asked questions on skincare and beauty related issues. SkinCare-News.com is located in Sacramento, California, but receives visitors from all around the world. For more information, visit http://www.skincare-news.com.

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