2008 Woodie Awards
Tanning is Harmful and Extremely Unnecessary Procedure
Krysta Venturella
Issue date: 5/3/06 Section: For or Against
- Page 1 of 1
With summer right around the corner, many students are looking to bronze their complexions as quickly as possible, and may put their skin's health at risk in the process.
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation website, tanning is when the skin darkens in response to ultraviolet radiation. Skin pigment darkens to protect the skin against further damage from UV radiation. It is important to note that damage to the DNA must have occurred to tan in the first place. Approximately 28 million Americans tan indoors and make up this $2 billion-a-year industry.
The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 1 million new cases of highly curable basal and squamous cell cancers will be diagnosed this year. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer, which presents itself at the bottom of the epidermis, the outer skin layer.
It is caused by chronic exposure to sunlight on commonly exposed body party; the face, ears, neck, scalp, shoulders, and back. Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common skin cancer found on the epidermis, the upper layers of skin. Common affected areas are lips, tips of ears, and mucous membranes.
In plain English, tanning messes up your skin, causes premature aging, and can take a big bite out of your wallet.
Jessica Lemma, a sophomore psychology major, has a history of skin cancer in her family. When her grandmother was in her 70s, she was diagnosed with skin cancer on her nose. Lemma's grandmother was not a tanner, but she got skin cancer from daily exposure to the sun. She had to undergo painful skin graph surgery. The doctors took skin samples from Lemma's grandmother's neck and transferred them to her nose. She had to keep bandages on her nose for weeks, and went through weeks of painful recovery.
Some people can go tanning for 20 years and not have any complications, and others can be careful, put sunscreen on and avoid sun exposure as much as possible, and still get skin cancer. The American Cancer Society found that people with fair skin, blondes, redheads, and those with fair eyes are most likely to get some form of skin cancer.
For those with fair skin, it might be better to use tanning lotions and creams that can create a bronze skin tone without the risks. Nivea Silky Shimmer is a daily body lotion that gives a subtle tan shimmer.
Gradual tanning lotions can create a tan, without orange streaks or a sudden color change. Neutrogena Build-a-Tan Gradual Sunless Tanning Lotion allows users to select the desired tan level over the course of a few days, without the "fake" look that is associated with tanning.
When the choice comes down to tan and risk future health problems, or try some safe alternatives, it is better to worry about your health rather than how good you can look for just one season. Health over vanity is always the right choice.
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation website, tanning is when the skin darkens in response to ultraviolet radiation. Skin pigment darkens to protect the skin against further damage from UV radiation. It is important to note that damage to the DNA must have occurred to tan in the first place. Approximately 28 million Americans tan indoors and make up this $2 billion-a-year industry.
The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 1 million new cases of highly curable basal and squamous cell cancers will be diagnosed this year. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer, which presents itself at the bottom of the epidermis, the outer skin layer.
It is caused by chronic exposure to sunlight on commonly exposed body party; the face, ears, neck, scalp, shoulders, and back. Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common skin cancer found on the epidermis, the upper layers of skin. Common affected areas are lips, tips of ears, and mucous membranes.
In plain English, tanning messes up your skin, causes premature aging, and can take a big bite out of your wallet.
Jessica Lemma, a sophomore psychology major, has a history of skin cancer in her family. When her grandmother was in her 70s, she was diagnosed with skin cancer on her nose. Lemma's grandmother was not a tanner, but she got skin cancer from daily exposure to the sun. She had to undergo painful skin graph surgery. The doctors took skin samples from Lemma's grandmother's neck and transferred them to her nose. She had to keep bandages on her nose for weeks, and went through weeks of painful recovery.
Some people can go tanning for 20 years and not have any complications, and others can be careful, put sunscreen on and avoid sun exposure as much as possible, and still get skin cancer. The American Cancer Society found that people with fair skin, blondes, redheads, and those with fair eyes are most likely to get some form of skin cancer.
For those with fair skin, it might be better to use tanning lotions and creams that can create a bronze skin tone without the risks. Nivea Silky Shimmer is a daily body lotion that gives a subtle tan shimmer.
Gradual tanning lotions can create a tan, without orange streaks or a sudden color change. Neutrogena Build-a-Tan Gradual Sunless Tanning Lotion allows users to select the desired tan level over the course of a few days, without the "fake" look that is associated with tanning.
When the choice comes down to tan and risk future health problems, or try some safe alternatives, it is better to worry about your health rather than how good you can look for just one season. Health over vanity is always the right choice.
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