Tanning, frying and Melanoma

Beginning in late march a national campaign by Indoor Tanning Association was started by posting a full page add in the New York Times suggesting, or as some saw it, plainly stating, that indoor tanning is good for ones body; not that it's not bad for you, they are saying that it's actually good for your body.
Hasn't the vast majority of research conducted concerning skin cancer faulted prolonged and high exposure to UV rays as a source for cancer? It has. But rather than to list source after source of proof of this. I wanted to share some thoughts on perhaps why some feel tanning may not be so dangerous for your skin; even though you are exposed to as high as 15 times more UV rays indoor tanning than from the sun.

I am a strong believer that UV rays and exposure to other harmful materials, matter etc out in the world contribute to skin cancer, but genetics and diet also has it's part. I grew up blocks from the beach in Santa Barbara, and still see the much older retired men and women laying out occasionally and walking by the waterfront, skin exposed, enjoying afternoon in high degree weather. Some of which I know personally, have been doing this there whole life and have the prunie, dark gold skin to prove it. So what gives, where's the cancer? Does lifestyle and diet play a role? Med Headlines released this article on diet and and skin cancer, suggesting a number of foods that are known to fight skin cancer development, and also added a fact I wasn't aware of... individuals that consume more fruits and vegetables have only half the incidence of skin cancer, whereas those who consume meals high in meat and fat have twice the risk.

Whatever your personal thoughts on this matter, I think we can all agree that if our body reacts to exposure of any type by burning discomfort, and have exhaustive research to reference a UV Ray to Melanoma link, we should probably cover up with some SPF and consider other alternatives to protect ourselves like changing up the diet.

source of some material for this post.
http://medheadlines.com
http://abcnews.go.com

Comments

[Bill]

~"...But rather than to list source after source of proof of this..."

No, seriously, please post this info. Post a single link to a peer reviewed study that shows regular (3 or 4 times a week), moderate (non-burning) UV exposure causes an increased risk in melanoma.

Less than 10,000 people a year will die from skin cancer. Almost 8,000 of these will be melanoma. There are studies that show occupational exposure actually reduce the risk of melanoma as well as many internal cancers, cardiovascular risk and many other maladies.

http://www.dana-farber.org/abo/news/press/2007/guardian-of-the-genome-protein-found-to-underlie-skin-tanning.html

http://uvtalk.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=10 has many, many links that back what I am saying.

thanks Bill, Dana-Farber is a great reference and hits on the "base tan" idea to prevent harm to ones skin. Indoor tanning, however,is a different story. "The number one risk factor for melanoma is an inability to tan..." this is a great point, there are other factors to just sun exposure that contribute to possible development of skin cancer. If you look at a lot of these studies nullifying or suggesting sun to cancer link, many say "for some." Some individuals react differently. Dana - Farber also released this study for it.
I still say cover up a bit.
http://www.dana-farber.org/abo/news/press/2003/study-sheds-light-on-how-the-sun-causes-skin-cancer.html

[dermatology rancho cucamonga]

I wanted to share some thoughts on perhaps why some feel tanning may not be so dangerous for your skin,that the reason why we have an resources about this.

by: sphin

[Ajlouny]

Tanning is not safer than the sun. Anything added to the body in excess cannot be safe. As posted earlier, "Take in moderate portions," be it natural sunlight or at the tanning salon. The remarks of the Indoor Tanning Association need to be taken with a grain of salt. Of course, they want to promote tanning! They want to add to their $2 billion/year industry and encourage more than the 28 million Americans who get indoor tans.

[dermatology rancho cucamonga]

I really like your blog so much,i looking forward to your next post.

sphin