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foxxie
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Any sun exposure will cause skin cancer.
Reality
Yes, ultraviolet light is believed to be linked to skin cancer. But no one understands exactly HOW it is linked. And since human beings NEED ultraviolet light to survive and thrive, categorical statements made about sun exposure should be scrutinized. Clearly, heredity, diet and repeated sunburn at an early age are probably the biggest risk factors for skin cancer. Plus, people with type 1 skin, those who can't develop a tan, have the highest incidence of skin cancer. This supports the logic that sunburn, not mere sun exposure, is the culprit behind skin cancer. Consider that a 1995 study in the International Journal of Cancer reported that individuals who followed a low-fat diet had 90 percent fewer skin cancers. It's clear that sun exposure is not the only factor in this disease and may not even be the main factor.
There is no such thing as a safe tan.
Reality
Actually, you could say that it isn't safe to totally avoid the sun. The benefits of regular sun exposure far outweigh the risks of overexposure, which easily can be minimized by merely avoiding sunburn. Research shows that regular, moderate sun exposure might actually decrease your risk of getting breast, colon, prostate and ovarian cancers as well as osteoporosis or even Alzheimer's disease. If you're a woman, you are 69 times more likely to die of breast cancer than skin cancer. And the vitamin D you receive from ultraviolet light, which cannot be replaced in your diet, may inhibit the formation of internal tumors, including breast cancer.
But some dermatologists say tanning causes melanoma.
Reality
The FDA in 1995 held a conference on melanoma. The agency concluded there is no clear evidence to say tanning causes melanoma, the disease's apparent link to ultraviolet light is still mysterious and unexplained. What's more, many studies have shown that people who receive regular sun exposure have less chance of getting melanoma skin cancer than those who don't.
There is an epidemic of skin cancer in the world today.
Reality
No, there isn't. Epidemics are events that happen suddenly and affect more than half of a group of people. Skin cancer rates have been rising steadily in the world since the early 1900s.
People catch AIDS or herpes from tanning beds.
Reality
This is impossible. The HIV virus dies upon exposure to oxygen and would not survive on a tanning bed. What's more, the U.S. Center for Disease Control says the odds of contracting any virus from a tanning bed are "extremely remote." Furthermore, professional tanning salons sanitize tanning equipment before every tanning session.
Indoor tanning is riskier than outdoor tanning.
Reality
That's absolutely false. Indoor tanning clients are exposed to a scientifically controlled dosage of ultraviolet light carefully formulated to tan you with a minimal risk of sunburn. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has established exposure times for tanning units, guidelines that are clearly marked on each machine. That kind of control is virtually impossible outdoors, where variables such as seasonality, time of day, location, geography, weather conditions, altitude and the Earth's thinning ozone layer make sunburn much more likely. Because sunburn is the main risk factor for skin damage, it's actually smarter to tan indoors.
Reality
Yes, ultraviolet light is believed to be linked to skin cancer. But no one understands exactly HOW it is linked. And since human beings NEED ultraviolet light to survive and thrive, categorical statements made about sun exposure should be scrutinized. Clearly, heredity, diet and repeated sunburn at an early age are probably the biggest risk factors for skin cancer. Plus, people with type 1 skin, those who can't develop a tan, have the highest incidence of skin cancer. This supports the logic that sunburn, not mere sun exposure, is the culprit behind skin cancer. Consider that a 1995 study in the International Journal of Cancer reported that individuals who followed a low-fat diet had 90 percent fewer skin cancers. It's clear that sun exposure is not the only factor in this disease and may not even be the main factor.
There is no such thing as a safe tan.
Reality
Actually, you could say that it isn't safe to totally avoid the sun. The benefits of regular sun exposure far outweigh the risks of overexposure, which easily can be minimized by merely avoiding sunburn. Research shows that regular, moderate sun exposure might actually decrease your risk of getting breast, colon, prostate and ovarian cancers as well as osteoporosis or even Alzheimer's disease. If you're a woman, you are 69 times more likely to die of breast cancer than skin cancer. And the vitamin D you receive from ultraviolet light, which cannot be replaced in your diet, may inhibit the formation of internal tumors, including breast cancer.
But some dermatologists say tanning causes melanoma.
Reality
The FDA in 1995 held a conference on melanoma. The agency concluded there is no clear evidence to say tanning causes melanoma, the disease's apparent link to ultraviolet light is still mysterious and unexplained. What's more, many studies have shown that people who receive regular sun exposure have less chance of getting melanoma skin cancer than those who don't.
There is an epidemic of skin cancer in the world today.
Reality
No, there isn't. Epidemics are events that happen suddenly and affect more than half of a group of people. Skin cancer rates have been rising steadily in the world since the early 1900s.
People catch AIDS or herpes from tanning beds.
Reality
This is impossible. The HIV virus dies upon exposure to oxygen and would not survive on a tanning bed. What's more, the U.S. Center for Disease Control says the odds of contracting any virus from a tanning bed are "extremely remote." Furthermore, professional tanning salons sanitize tanning equipment before every tanning session.
Indoor tanning is riskier than outdoor tanning.
Reality
That's absolutely false. Indoor tanning clients are exposed to a scientifically controlled dosage of ultraviolet light carefully formulated to tan you with a minimal risk of sunburn. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has established exposure times for tanning units, guidelines that are clearly marked on each machine. That kind of control is virtually impossible outdoors, where variables such as seasonality, time of day, location, geography, weather conditions, altitude and the Earth's thinning ozone layer make sunburn much more likely. Because sunburn is the main risk factor for skin damage, it's actually smarter to tan indoors.
