With prom and graduation season approaching, the Pennsylvania Department of Health has issued a warning about the dangers of tanning beds, especially for young people. Tanning has become popular over the years as a way for some people to give themselves a tanned look. It’s a minor way of altering their appearance. However, any Skin Care manufacturer or medical professional would likely say that doing so might be harmful to the skin.
Health officials say the two biggest dangers from tanning beds are eye damage and skin cancer. Melanoma is a common type of skin cancer that appears after long-term exposure to the UV rays of the Sun. For a while, many thought that tanning beds were the better and safer option to outdoor tanning, believing the beds would not give off any harmful side effects.
However, this is not the case. Experts are trying to dispel the popular belief that you can’t get burned from a tanning bed, which produces the same UV rays as the sun, so officials say the same precautions are recommended, such as wearing suntan lotion while out in the sun for long periods, to protect yourself from any harmful rays. Some tanners are looking to alternatives such as spray-on tans, which can be purchased in tanning salons. Others can buy melanotan 2 and similar products online that can aid with tanning while protecting the skin.
It is advised that members of the public take precautions before going out into the sun or try alternatives to tanning beds. It is advised that if they discover any issues with their skin, whether discoloration or skin trauma, they are to get in touch with a doctor specializing in skin pigmentation treatment at VCI or a dermatologist in their local area. State law prohibits minors from using a tanning bed, with 17-year-olds required to provide written parental permission.
Photo by Travel Salem
