That scary title brought to you by a new study that was performed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a division of the World Health Organization, which shows that people who begin using tanning beds regularly before age 30 increase their risk of developing skin cancer by 75%.  The group has said that this makes regular tanning bed use as carcinogenic (cancer-causing) as smoking cigarettes, and as dangerous as arsenic. (You can read the entire article here, if you have log-in credentials).

Photo: Borba.com

Photo: Borba.com

The interesting part about these statistics is that women currently have a far lower chance of developing skin cancer than men do, for both melanomas and the most common nonmelanoma carcinomas. Still, it seems that we’re just aching to catch up, because the predominant users of tanning beds are young women. According to a large study of American teenagers, girls are far more likely to think it was worth getting burned to get a tan, to believe that some, most, or all their friends tanned, and to put a high value on tanned skin. It seems quite obvious that this is an issue that starts far before a teenage girl gets in the tanning bed; it involves a clear societal value or beauty ideal being placed above health.  These seem all to common among women today, from unhealthy dieting to risking surgery and back problems simply to have larger breasts.

Now that we know the risks, and we understand that it is really our young women who are in the most danger, what should we do at a personal or political level? Already, several states have enacted laws that require parental permission for teens to use tanning beds, require a doctor’s note, or simply ban tanning by persons under a certain age altogether. What do you think? Knowing the risks, will you still use a tanning bed? Do you think that adults should be unfettered by the government in this risky practice, even as we protect our nation’s teenagers?

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Comments

When we are teenagers we think we will never die or contract a major disease. I believe at a minimum these tanning salons should be required to post similar warnings as the cigarette industry. These warnings should be posted at each booth, and a form signed acknowledging the customer has been informed of the hazards. Maybe that might scare some of the girls away.

This subject really confuses me. We need sunlight to stay healthy, yet we are at risk of getting cancer if we go out in the sun...where have we gone wrong?

The more I think about this the more I am inclined to say they should just be banned from the under 18 are tempted to use them. As with alcohol this can be additive and very harmful so we should take temptation away.

As a fair skinned red head I have a hard time figuring out why anyone would subject themselves to such a harmful process. Be comfortable with who you are and don't let outside influences change how you feel about yourself in a negative way.

my wife is wanting to start tanning again. She said she wants to use natural sunlight but I told her that the tanning booth would be better. I guess I was wrong

The idea that unless tanned you don't look healthy seems to be very deeply held, and yet this is such a recent concept and surely could be altered by the media and the fashion industry just avoiding heavy tanning of models and film stars?

Natural tanning is the best option. Sun beds are expensive and it is also not good for the health.

We are experiencing increased rates of skin cancer here in the UK despite our generally lower levels of natural UV exposure. This is being attributed to the trend for young girls to acquire a "healthy" color from their early teens. UK tanning salons are now restricted to over 18's.

Now that we know the risks and mostly young women who are in the most danger and more of them are using tanning beds at young age, could it be possible that there should be an age limit with regards to tanning beds?? EDITOR's COMMENT: Good question. In our home state of Illinois, the Legislature is trying to pass a law that prohibits minors from using tanning beds.

I think depending on the risk involved, regulation is definitely necessary.

Sunbeds are really dangerous and should be banned in my opinion.Woman and men should stick to the more safer option of false tan lotion and creams.A few weeks ago my wife used sun beds for just 9 minutes and the next morning woke up looking like the elephant man with swollen eyes and puffy skin - do yourselves a favour and stay away from them.

I was burnt so bad from a tanning bet once that I never use them anymore. The person running the tanning salon didn't have a clue and I did not either and I spent 30 minutes without any protection under the lights. A few days later I could barely move and my skin was literally falling off my body.

Thank you very much for this article. I believe that it´s very important and essential for especially young girl to know that extreme tanning is very dangerous. Of course - i like when my skin has healthy "sun kissed" look but i don´t "grill" myself. I don´t want to have wrinkles all over my body at all.

I always thought that these tanning beds are dangerous. Thank you for backing up this theory. Great post, I'll share it with my friends.

Thanks for this post Candace! I am very happy that you posted this article to let the people be aware of the danger they might get from tanning themselves using this kind of machine. I think it's better that we will be contented with the complexion we have rather than undergoing such procedure which could be harmful for the body. Cody F

“World Health Organization, which shows that people who begin using tanning beds regularly before age 30 increase their risk of developing skin cancer by 75%. The group has said that this makes regular tanning bed use as carcinogenic (cancer-causing) as smoking cigarettes, and as dangerous as arsenic.” Wow 75%? That’s a huge increase…really puts it in perspective. I don’t think having tan skin is worth the risk of developing skin cancer!! I hope people heed this warning!

As a child I was taught that the sun, air and water are our best friends. Now the sun (or rather the ultraviolet radiation) are removed from the list.

Tanning is kind of like smoking....we know we should not do it but we just can't help it. I actually don't tan as much as i used to simply for the health reasons. Thanks for the reminder. Scott

great site and some interesting posts. i will bookmark this site for the future

Very interesting. I believe that the risks are substantial and that knowledge is the key. After witnessing the litigation regarding the tobacco companies and their failure to warn, I think the tanning beds may pose a similar dilemma.

Very interesting indeed. I was wondering why the UV sun levels are so high at times. What is it with the sun now and days, is it getting stronger every year or so?

Time is giving the reason to all those people, professionals and doctors that always adviced to stay away from the sun as much as possible. Every day skin cancer cases grow more and more. I remember when i was a child i saw a doctor on tv that said . "your skin has memory, and in the long run, what you do to your skin it will come back to you"

I think there should be proper education before experiencing. especially for the first timers.

The first time a person experiences a panic attack it can feel like their world is falling down around them. Nowhere feels safe as the anxiety becomes like a stalker lurking in the background.

People have actually begun launching lawsuits against sunblock companies over the "Promises" the packaging made. That is why they are all changing now.

It’s a poor world when we have to resort to artificial means to do what nature does for free. But if someone wants to risk their life doing an activity like tanning Beds who has the right to say no. It’s when they expect those who didn't, to pay their medical bills that I start to think that maybe the tanning industry should be made to pay the true cost of their business.

my parents used to tan in my backyard, holding reflectors like books to direct more sun into their faces! EDITOR'S NOTES: I remember those days too, sometimes they added iodine to baby oil and used it as a tanning lotion!

It's very interesting, but I think you should create a short documentary movie for this thought. What d'you think?

At least smoking is actually addictive, so people with that particular vice have *some* excuse. Then again, I know women who started smoking in order to lose weight, which is really just as dumb as tanning. Why do we do this to ourselves?? It’s so frustrating, really. My youngest sister loves to tan and jokes that she wants to get as dark as my nephew, who is half African American! She says the boys like tans on girls. I’d just love for her to get the confidence to say that she isn’t willing to risk her health for what the boys might like. This is just one of those things I don’t get. I’ve never been to a tanning bed, and I doubt I ever will. I won’t get too high and mighty though, because I don’t always wear sunscreen when I’m out in the actual sun.

Septamia, I agree with you, but the atmosphere has been degraded by human activities that is now a treat to our existence. And despite the clear evidence that it’s unsafe, the use of tanning beds is still on the rise. The tanning companies claims that tanning is a good way to increase the skin’s production of vitamin D, a major essential to bone health, I think this is crap, they should be sued. By taking supplements one can easily get sufficient vitamin D, without any risks to your life. Thanks again for this post, let all beware.

At 52 years I finally got over having to have a tan every summer. Now I just look like a ghost all year round!

I would say that the tanning beds in my opinion are bad for the skin if they are used for long hours of the uva rays on the skin. But for acne treatment I don't know if it helps the treatment for acne or not, \i would like to know.

Tanning beds are BAD for you. I see too many melanomas. Please, do not tan!!!

You know in Asia and thailand the whiter your skin is for man or woman the more beautiful you are. i swear if your pale or ginger they chase you down the isle> Dark and italian they dont care for you.

We as lifeguards are so guilty of this too!! Especially in colder places like Chicago

These are vital lessons to teach young people because it's such a part of the culture. They don't think anything bad can happen to them, but they aren't thinking about the future.

A 75% increase in the chance of developing skin cancer is scary. I know a lot of people who started going to the tanning salon as soon as they were old enough to drive. Perhaps we need a stronger public awareness movement for this.. I cannot imagine teenagers being so willing to get a fake tan if they knew the real risks.

Well I guess the decision should rely on the individuals ourselves. By publicly reporting the danger of skin cancer and what can cause it, The Government already shown their responsibility to protect their people. They also banning teenagers from tanning bed, because they know that at this stage of age people can’t clearly thinking between risk and benefit of what they doing. Government didn’t banned adult from tanning bed practice, because at this stage of age people expected should be able make decision on their own.

I have a friend who is addicted to tanning. I will let her in on this article so she would be aware that it is not always how you look that matters. Thanks for this helpful article.

Having natural skin color is beautiful. Why others wanted to have tanned skin. It's dangerous to expose your body to the sun in long hours just to get tan. It could lead to serious skin problems.

It seems crazy that people would do something that is bad for you, however we do it every day. Our best judgement sometimes isn't good. Especially with young people, even with restrictions you are still going to have parents that allow it, so what do you do then. Many times we do not think of consequences or long term affects to what we do until it's too late.I think to a degree we are all guilty of that at some point.

Just do outdoor activities and live a healthy lifestyle. Thats all you need.

It should be mandatory to be atleast 18, plus adding images of skin cancer to tanning beds.

People who still go tanning are asking for trouble. You'd think they'd get the point after seeing the injuries of others who've tanned all their lives and quit doing it. Oh well.

My mum used to lay out in the sun as she believed that having a tan made you more attractive. Now at the age of 75 she has had 5 operations to remove skin cancers from her face. I think everyone should be aware of the dangers of the sun and tanning beds for that matter!

It never ceases to amaze me how we torture ourselves to look good. The longterm effects of these tanning beds should be studied. What about FDA regulations?

I believe that the tanning industry has attempted to misrepresent the risks of tanning beds for years. I view this as similar to the cigarette makers arguing that their product was not causing cancer. On the flip side, consumers need to take responsibility for their own health and STOP tanning!

I think tanning beds should be subject to the approval of some government agency. I am not sure if consumer groups are aware of these dangers.

I'm african american so i went the tanning saloon .The look an everyone faces .i could'nt help but laugh

This is really sad. I was just watching the national news last night and they were saying that there are many former skin cancer patients who are now returning back to tanning beds. Will these people ever learn?

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