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The sun emits three types of ultraviolet radiation -
UVA, UVB and UVC.
Sunlight (mainly UVB) stimulates melanocytes, this is the pigment producing
cells in the epidermis*
that produces melanin.
Melanin is then dispersed into
skin cells and carried to the stratum corneum.
This process takes up to
three days, which is why tanning should be gradual.
If the skin is
rushed into melanin production by over over exposure (particularly if a
person has fair skin)
melanin dispersion tends to be patchy and this will cause
freckles.
Everyone, regardless of
race, has roughly the same amount of melanocytes.
It is the ability to
produce melanin that determines whether someone tans well or not, and
melanin quantities vary according to skin type.
Fair skin has less
melanin and therefore less able to absorb sunlight.
*Epidermis: The upper or
outer layer of the two main layers of cells that make up the skin.
The
epidermis is mostly made up of flat, scale-like cells called squamous
cells.
UVA penetrates deep into the skin causing damage like wrinkles and
discoloration.
Overexposure to UVB causes sunburn, a skin reaction where blood vessels expand
and leak fluids, producing inflammation, pain and redness. Sunburn,
whether severe or mild, can cause permanent and irreversible skin
damage. Over exposure to UV radiation and the number of severe
sunburns received, especially during childhood, may increase the risk of
developing skin cancer.
A tan may make you feel healthier, but
some dermatologist's will tell you a tan is simply the body's way of defending itself, and is a sign of
skin damage. Darker skin colors are more able to absorb the sun rays. A tan increases natural
sun protection by 2-4 times.
This generally is not enough for adequate
protection, which is why it's best to continue sun protection even when
you are tanned.
A defense mechanism the skin employs is called mitosis.
UVB
exposure increases production of skin cells causing the stratum corneum
to become thicker. This can increase protection 10-fold.
Over time this
thickening takes on an unattractive leathery appearance, often seen in
outdoor workers and sun worshippers.
If you get a sunburn, what
you are really getting is cellular damage from ultraviolet radiation.
The body responds to sunburn damage by increasing the blood flow to the
capillary bed of the dermis in order to bring in new
cells to repair the
damage. The extra blood in the capillaries causes the redness -
if you
press on sunburned skin it will turn white and then return to red as the
capillaries refill.
Skin Types
Our skin is a living organ that is constantly
regenerating itself. The outer layer, called the epidermis, is very thin.
It consists of a protective layer of skin cells that
continually shed and give way to new cells. Below the epidermis are the
dermis and hypodermis, two layers that produce the oil, collagen, and elastin that give your skin support, elasticity, and shine.
As you
change and grow, so does your skin. Aging and environmental elements,
such as sun, sun tanning, wind, pollution, and heating systems, all affect your skin
type.
Below you will find different skin types as well as definitions of
those types that may help you to determine your skin type.
Tanning works differently for different skin types.
The different skin types outlined below are general descriptions.
These differences can be considerable, are hereditary and cannot be
changed by outside influences.
People with very sensitive skin will burn
easily and will tan only with difficulty while the more dark skinned
individuals (skin type 3 & 4) will have little problems with sunburn and
will tan easily. Your skins natural ability to produce melanin
(pigmentation) determines your skin type.
Skin Type I: This type of skin burns easily and severely, then peels - never tans.
This is very fair skin and this person will have
red or blond hair & freckles
(unexposed skin is white)
It is recommended that this person not tan in the sun or
tanning bed.
Non - UV tanning such as spray tans or other self tanning products are recommended.
Skin Type 2: This is the type of skin that usually burns easily and severely, tans minimally or lightly
and peels, usually fair skinned (unexposed skin is white)
Skin Type 3:
This skin type is referred to as "Average" complexion, burns moderately and tans gradually to a light brown.
Skin Type 4: This type of skin burns minimally and tans well to a moderate brown.
Skin Type 5: This is the person we tanners hate (jealous) because
they rarely burn, tan easily to a dark color. (unexposed skin is brown)
TYPE 6: This individual rarely burns and tans easily. Typically: Dark hair, dark eyes, very dark skin.
The Case Against Indoor Tanning
There is some evidence that ultraviolet radiation can cause skin cancer.
Despite this information the usage of indoor
tanning devices that emit ultraviolet UV Radiation in tanning salons and
in home tanning beds, has never been more popular. Indoor tanning salons
have become big
business and some tanning trade publications have reported this as a $2
billion-a-year industry just in the United States. According to some industry
estimates, 28 million people are tanning in tanning beds annually in about
25,000 tanning salons around the country and it appears that it is still
growing.
Is Tanning Healthy?
Over the last few years, the indoor tanning industry has taken an
aggressive stand, claiming that indoor tanning is healthy.
Tanning is an acquired darkening of the skin in response to ultraviolet
radiation. Not all types of skin is capable of developing a tan in response to UV
radiation exposure: Very fair-skinned people (Type 1) simply burn and freckle. In
those who can tan, the brown pigment called melanin is produced and distributed
in the upper portions of the skin (the epidermis) within a few days
after UV exposure.
The development of this pigment in the upper layers of the skin will minimally protect
the skin against further damage from UV radiation.
This UV protection has been cited to support the theory that a tan is
healthy.
Indoor tanning for cosmetic purposes has been repeatedly questioned by
organized medicine.
This criticism reached a peak in December, 1994, when the American
Medical Association adopted a resolution calling for a ban on the sale
and use of tanning equipment for non-medical purposes. However, the U.
S. Federal Trade Commission, which regulates the sale and marketing of
indoor tanning equipment, declined to institute such a ban. The FTC did
not accept the AMA's position, and in fact moved in the other direction,
prohibiting the industry from marketing indoor tanning for any purpose
other than cosmetic. It cannot make health claims. The tanning industry
has requested a change in this regulation and is actively seeking the
ability to market the "health benefits" of indoor tanning.
Is Indoor Tanning is on the Rise?
The desirability of a tan is a fairly recent phenomenon. In
the 1920s the French designer Coco Chanel declared a fashion
statement. His idea of getting a tan without having to go outdoors
became more and more popular. Early indoor tanning units emitted the
most damaging portions of the ultraviolet spectrum, UVC and UVB, and
were plagued by safety concerns. In the 1970s, tanning devices that
emitted mostly UVA radiation were developed and were quickly put to use
in indoor
tanning. The biological effects of UVA were less obvious than those of
UVB, which is responsible for skin reddening, or UVC and these devices
were touted as offering a "safe" tan.
It soon became apparent that UVA exposure could cause the same problems
as UVB, namely sunburns, wrinkles (photo aging), and skin cancer. The UVA-emitting
devices were not very effective at inducing a tan. And so, the idea
of a "safe" UVA tan, so highly promoted by the indoor tanning industry
just a few years ago, is now gone. It was not abandoned for scientific
reasons, but purely out of the market-driven desire for darker and
faster tanning than UVA could induce.
The next step was the development of indoor tanning devices that contain
a mixture of UVA and UVB, simulating the mixture found in the sun. These
are the types in use today.
Vitamin D and Tanning
All human beings need Vitamin D in order for their bodies to grow and
function properly.
Vitamin D helps the body metabolize calcium.
When
children lack vitamin D, their bodies cannot use calcium properly and
they develop rickets.
Rickets is marked by "soft bones" and things like
bowleggedness and knock-knees.
Cod liver oil supplies Vitamin D, and it
was commonly prescribed before the advent of Vitamin D fortified milk.
The other way to get Vitamin D is to expose your skin to ultraviolet
light.
Ultraviolet light converts 7-dehydrocholesterol flowing in your
bloodstream into Vitamin D.
Sunscreens
Sunscreens will either block or absorb certain amounts of ultraviolet light.
You can block UV rays with
opaque creams like white zinc oxide cream that you see lifeguards
putting on their noses to keep them from receiving little or no tanning
rays.
You can also absorb UV radiation in much the
same way that melanin does.
The most common of the absorption
chemicals is PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid). It absorbs UVB.
If you have sensitive skin, PABA could cause skin
irritation or an allergic reaction.
Other sunscreen chemicals include:
Cinnamates (absorbs UVB).
Benzophenones (absorbs UVA).
Anthranilates (absorbs UVA and UVB).
All sunscreens are labeled with an SPF (Sun Protection
Factor).
The SPF number gives you some idea of how long you can stay in the sun
without burning.
The higher the SPF number is the more sun protection you have.
For example, if you normally burn in 10 minutes without sunscreen, you
should be protected from a sunburn for 150 minutes using SPF 15.
Swimming and perspiration reduce the actual SPF value for many
sunscreens.
Be sure to reapply the sunscreen even if the product is labeled as
water-resistant as water resistant doesn't mean water proof.
You should apply a sunscreen about half an hour before going out in the sun (or
the water) so it can bind to your skin -
if you don't,
then it is very easy for the sunscreen to wash off.
While all sunscreens provide some level of protection against UVB rays,
no product screens out all UVA rays.
Even when you use a sunscreen with a high SPF number, there's no way to
know how much UVA protection you're getting
because the SPF rating applies only to UVB radiation and there's no
system available yet for rating UVA protection.
Indoor Tanning and Skin Cancer
Is there evidence that associates indoor tanning with skin
cancer?
Tanning Trends magazine, a trade publication, writes:
"Moderate tanning has never been linked scientifically to skin cancer.
In fact, by helping people tan with a reduced incidence of sunburn,
indoor tanning may reduce your risk of ever contracting skin cancer."
The indoor tanning industry admits ultraviolet radiation
could
cause skin cancer if it continuously produces an actual burn. However,
industry spokespeople point out that the pattern of sun exposure that
causes skin cancer, in particular melanoma and basal cell carcinoma, is
not consistent with indoor tanning practices. For a given amount of UV
light, the industry argues there is a difference between receiving the
energy in many small doses that lead to tanning versus a few big doses
that produce a burn.
Campaigns to Decrease Excessive Tanning Exposure.
Physicians and medical groups around the world have undertaken
extensive campaigns to decrease excessive exposure to ultraviolet light
in order to reduce the chances of skin cancer. Surveys show there is
increasing awareness that excessive exposure to ultraviolet light
might cause skin cancer. Despite
this knowledge, tanning indoors and outdoors is more popular than ever.
Most studies suggest young women are the most frequent patrons of
tanning salons. The development of photo aging and skin cancer may take
years to become apparent in these young tanners, while the perceived
social value of a tan or tanning is noticed quickly.
Things you Might Consider to Protect Yourself
1. Limit your exposure to UV rays so you can avoid a sunburn.
If you are
tanning in a tanning bed, ask what the manufacturer or the tanning salon staff
recommends as exposure limits for your skin type.
Set a timer on the
tanning bed that automatically shuts off the lights or somehow signals
that you've reached your exposure time.
Remember that exposure time
affects burning and that your age at the time of exposure is important
so that you don't burn.
Studies suggest that children and adolescents are
harmed more by equivalent amounts of UVB rays than adults.
The earlier you start tanning, the earlier skin injury may occur.
2. Use goggles to protect your eyes while using a tanning devise.
Ask whether safety goggles
are provided and if their use is mandatory. Make sure the goggles fit
snugly.
Check to see that the salon sterilizes the goggles after each
use to prevent the spread of eye infections.
The Food and Drug Administration requires tanning salons to
direct all customers to wear protective eye goggles.
Closing
your eyes, wearing ordinary sunglasses, and using cotton wads do
not
protect the cornea from the intensity of UV radiation in
tanning devices.
Long-term exposure to natural sunlight also can result in eye
damage,
but in the sun, people generally are more aware that
their eyelids are burning.
Under indoor UV lights, exposed skin
remains cool to the touch.
In addition, the intensity of lights
used in tanning devices is much greater and potentially
more
damaging to the eyes than the intensity of UV rays in natural
sunlight.
3. Consider your medical history. If you are undergoing treatment
for lupus or diabetes or are susceptible to cold sores, be aware that
these conditions can be aggravated through exposure to ultraviolet
radiation from tanning beds, sunlamps, or natural sunlight. In addition,
your skin may be more sensitive to artificial light or sunlight if you
use certain medications: for example, antihistamines, tranquilizers or
birth control pills. Your tanning salon may keep a file with information
on your medical history, medications, and treatments.
Be sure that you keep this information updated with your tanning
salon as necessary.
More Tanning information:
Strike
Three Against Tanning Machines
Studies Link
Tanning Machines to Common Skin Cancers
Regulation
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission
(FTC) share responsibilities in the regulation of sunlamps and sun
tanning devices. The FDA enforces regulations that deal with labels on
the devices; the FTC investigates false, misleading, and deceptive
advertising claims about the tanning devices. When these agencies determine that
a tanning device label dosen't comply with the regulations or that advertisements
are not truthful, they may take corrective action. The FDA also can
remove products from the marketplace.
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/complaint.htm
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Anything published on this web site
is designed for informational purposes only.
Hey, we don't know everything and it's even debatable whether we know
anything at all, but we have done what we can to provide you with some
information that might be helpful and of interest to you.
In no way shape or form are we trying to dispense medical advise,
so if you have a medical concern please contact your medical provider.
Copyright © 2003 Action Sun Supply, Inc.