New information about tanning beds and skin cancer

 

As fall turns to winter, many of us crave the warmth of the sun and a visit to the local tanning salon may seem like a good idea. But in reality, a trip to a tanning bed is harmful to your health.

Indoor tanning has become more popular among teens looking to achieve that “healthy glow”. Unfortunately, many teens (and parents too!) think that getting a tan indoors is safer than tanning in the sun. This isn’t true.

Recently, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) a global leader for cancer research, said indoor tanning equipment is a group one carcinogen. This means that tanning beds are now in the same category as the harmful chemicals that are in cigarettes that have been known to cause cancer.

Teens and indoor tanning

IARC’s announcement on tanning beds was based on over 20 studies that looked at tanning equipment use and the links to melanoma skin cancer. The assessment showed that using indoor tanning equipment before the age of 30 can increase a person’s risk of developing melanoma skin cancer by 75%. This is very concerning because melanoma skin cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer for youth between 15-29,

To learn more about IARC’s study, please click here.

Talk to your teens

There is a lot misinformation floating around about the benefits of tanning and using indoor tanning equipment. It is important that our teens know the difference between an advertising campaign and real health information. 

As parents, it is important that we never stop telling our teens that they are naturally perfect and don’t need to change the colour of their skin to be beautiful.

Check out the healthy eating and physical activity section of the website for ideas on how to encourage your family to get that healthy glow through diet and exercise, not by using a tanning bed.