Dying for a good tan?
Tanorexia
The latest statistics for skin cancer deaths in the UK are well over 2000 from malignant melanoma skin cancer and 546 from nonmelanoma skin cancer. And are still increasing.
Tanning addiction is an uncommon condition where people seem to have a physical or psychological addiction to sun bathing or using tanning beds.
A group of dermatologists published a study showing that everyday tanners experience a loss of control over their tanning schedule, displaying an addiction similar to smokers and alcoholics.
Dying for a good tan?
An increasing number of teenagers prepare to bare their bits for the summer months by baking their bodies on sunbeds. But this kind of artificial tan does not protect against sunburn, and the long-term consequences of using a sunbed can be serious.
Sunbeds contain fluorescent tubes, which tan the skin by emitting Ultraviolet Rays, the same type of radiation that is found in natural sunlight. Two types of radiation are used; UVA and UVB rays. About 95 % of sunlight is made up of UVA rays, which causes skin ageing, and about 5 % is UVB rays, which causes skin to burn. Though Britain has sunbed safety standards, researchers say 9 out of 10 sunbeds give off unsafe levels of UV.
Is it really worth having a tan?
Biochemical evidence indicates that tanning addicts are addicted to an opioid release experienced during tanning.
About 10 % of the population in Northern Europe use sunbeds to get a tan, and it is most popular among people with fair skin. About 24 % of British 16-24 year-olds have used a sunbed. There ' s been concern recently about the growing number of people as young as 13 using tanning beds. The number of young men who use sunbeds has also increased.
There are other alternatives out there instead of damaging your skin using tanning beds. There are many fake tan products being marketed and are perfectly safe, e. g spray tans.
So the next time you want a healthy glow, take it from a bottle