Photo from Wikipedia
With all we know about the dangers of harmful UV rays, one would think that tanning salons would lose their appeal. Not so, according to a report in the December issue of the Archives of Dermatology. Tanning beds have retained their popularity among Americans, even though various reports show a link between indoor tanning and an increased risk of skin cancer. Not to mention they’re just kind of icky! The idea of laying on a surface where many other sweaty people have been before you is just… well, gross.
But, the more important issue at hand is that skin cancer incidences are on the rise, especially in women younger than 40 (MedPage Today, 12/20, Smith)- and that generally seems to be the prime demographic for tanning salons. According to a report on HealthDay(12/20, Reinberg), “about one in every five women and more than six percent of men say they use indoor tanning.” The authors of the study concluded that the public should be made more aware of the risks of indoor tanning. It is not a safer way to tan, contrary to popular belief.
