Indoor tanning before the age of 35 is associated with significant increases in the risk of melanoma, a dangerous type of skin cancer that can easily spread to other parts of the body. However, studies show that each day more than one million Americans still use tanning salons. According to the American Academy of Dermatology 70% of indoor tanners are women between the ages of 16 to 29. An alternative to UV tanning is sunless tanning with products containing DHA, a plant derived compound. The tan achieved from DHA is not a dye, stain or paint, but a chemical reaction between the DHA and the amino acids in the dead layer on the skin surface. Even if you have a sunless tan, keep in mind that sun screen is still a must when going outside. Read more.
Tags: bed, Cancer, indoor, melanoma, skin, tanning, ultraviolet, UV
Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.