Sun exposure could actually help prevent cancer.
Evidence:
It's true. Studies indicating that this relationship exists need to be
considered. Many different researchers have shown that regular
moderate sun exposure may play a role in preventing several kinds of
cancers, including colon and breast cancers, which claim hundreds of
thousands of lives annually. Several studies have shown that Vitamin
D, whose only reliable source for humans comes from sunshine, may play
a role in retarding or arresting pre-cancerous cells in the body from
reproducing. Indeed, we have known for decades that overall cancer
rates are significantly higher in sun-deprived parts of the world.
The benefits of sun exposure far outweigh the risks of sunburn and
overexposure.
Evidence:
Do the math. Non-melanoma skin cancer, which may be linked to sunburn
and overexposure to ultraviolet light, has an extremely low death rate
of 0.3 percent and claims 1,200 lives a year in the United States.
Compare that to diseases that can be inhibited by regular sun
exposure. Colon and breast cancers, both of which may be inhibited by
regular ultraviolet light exposure, have high death rates of 20-65
percent and claim 138,000 lives every year. Osteoporosis, a bone
disease which can be inhibited by regular sun exposure, is epidemic,
affecting 25 million Americans. Every year, 1.5 million osteoporosis
patients suffer bone fractures, which can be fatal in elderly cases.
Because regular sun exposure may inhibit the onset of this and other
diseases, it is clear that these and other potential benefits of sun
exposure need to be explored and factored into the equation.
People who receive regular sun exposure have a lower
incidence of malignant melanoma than those who don't.
Evidence:
Researchers have known for years that individuals who receive regular
exposure to sunshine have a lower risk of contracting melanoma skin
cancer. This fact is not disputed in the scientific community among
researchers, although some less-informed doctors and lobbyists do not
understand this relationship, and often confuse the statistics. What's
more, new research is showing that skin cancer is more prevalent in
the northerly latitudes of North America and of Europe than in the
southerly latitudes, which again suggests that regular sun exposure
may inhibit the development of melanoma skin cancer.
If
regular sun exposure could prevent cancer, why do we always hear only
the opposite?
Evidence: The almighty dollar. Fear of the sun, scaring people about wrinkles
and skin cancer, is a multi-billion-dollar industry led by huge
special interests who not only conduct most of the research on this
topic but also promote it. Lobbyists for pharmaceutical firms that
sell billions of dollars of sunscreens and anti-sun cosmetics have
teamed with the dermatology industry to promote a misinformed campaign
of sun abstinence. Conversely, there is no major industry except the
indoor tanning industry that could make money by promoting the
positive effects of sunshine. And the indoor tanning industry consists
of smaller companies that do not match the marketing saturation of the
multi-billion dollar
"sun-scare coalition." The idea that people need to control their sun
exposure is valid, but
sun-scare lobbyists have taken that message too far.
Why don't dermatologists like any form of tanning?
Evidence: The dermatology industry makes most of its money on "vanity visits"
from patients. One prominent New York dermatologist estimates that
50-90 percent of the dermatology industry's business is "cosmetic" and
medically unnecessary. Skin cancer is an important issue to the
dermatology industry because it represents the only subject that its
lobbyists can promote as critical. Unfortunately, in their zeal to
address this topic, lobbyists for the dermatology industry have
twisted the facts, exaggerated research findings and misled the
public.
So is skin cancer a concern then?
Evidence: Absolutely. But it is a concern that professional indoor tanning
facilities feel they are addressing effectively by teaching people to
tan intelligently indoors and outdoors. We feel the marketing hype
behind the sun-scare message has blown the concern about this issue
out of whack and has completely ignored the positive aspects of
regular moderate sun exposure.
Indoor tanning is helping to reduce the incidence of
sunburn.
Evidence:
It's true. One industry study has shown that indoor tanners, are
81 percent less likely to sunburn indoors or outside than non-tanners.
That's because tanning salons are playing a lead role in educating
people that moderate tanning is okay and sunburn should be avoided.
The impractical message of sun abstinence promoted by the "sun-scare
coalition" is totally ineffective, people are not going to hide from
sunshine. Indeed, the American Academy of Dermatology reported in 1997
that sunburn incidence has
increased nine percent in the past 10 years, despite all-out efforts
of sun-scare industries to warn people about the dangers of
overexposure. In that same time period, sunburn incidence among indoor
tanners has declined. It is the non-tanners who are doing most of the
burning. Given that reality, teaching people who can tan the
principles of smart tanning
Any sun
exposure will cause skin cancer.
Reality: Yes, ultraviolet light is believed to be linked to skin cancer. But no
one understands exactly HOW it is linked. And since human beings NEED
ultraviolet light to survive and thrive, categorical statements made
about sun exposure should be scrutinized. Clearly, heredity, diet and
repeated sunburn at an early age are probably the biggest risk factors
for skin cancer. Plus, people with type 1 skin, those who can't
develop a tan, have the highest incidence of skin cancer. This
supports the logic that sunburn, not mere sun exposure, is the culprit
behind skin cancer. Consider that a 1995 study in the International
Journal of Cancer reported that individuals who followed a low-fat
diet had 90 percent fewer skin cancers. It's clear that sun exposure
is not the only factor in this disease and may not even be the main
factor.
There is no such thing as a safe tan.
Reality: Actually, you could say that it isn't safe to totally avoid the sun.
The benefits of regular sun exposure far outweigh the risks of
overexposure, which easily can be minimized by merely avoiding
sunburn. Research shows that regular, moderate sun exposure might
actually decrease your risk of getting breast, colon, prostate and
ovarian cancers as well as osteoporosis or even Alzheimer's disease.
If you're a woman, you are 69 times more likely to die of breast
cancer than skin cancer. And the vitamin D you receive from
ultraviolet light, which cannot be replaced in your diet, may inhibit
the formation of internal tumors, including breast cancer.
But some dermatologists say tanning causes melanoma.
Reality: The FDA in 1995 held a conference on melanoma. The agency
concluded there is no clear evidence to say tanning causes melanoma,
the disease's apparent link to ultraviolet light is still mysterious
and unexplained. What's more, many studies have shown that people who
receive regular sun exposure have less chance of getting melanoma skin
cancer than those who don't.
There is an epidemic of skin cancer in the world today.
Reality: No, there isn't. Epidemics are events that happen suddenly and
affect more than half of a group of people. Skin cancer rates have
been rising steadily in the world since the early 1900s.
Skin cancer rates are rising because more people tan today than did
in years past.
Reality: That kind of gross oversimplification is dangerous thinking.
Actually, skin cancer rates have risen steadily in the 1900s. And
society spent less time outdoors this century than in any previous
century. Remember, most people worked outdoors until the industrial
revolution in the late 1800s. If anything, the fact people do not
receive regular sun exposure, which makes them more susceptible to
sunburn when they do go outdoors, may be linked to the increase in
skin cancer this century. Again, moderate tanning has not been linked
scientifically in any study as a cause of skin cancer.
People catch AIDS or herpes from tanning beds.
Reality: This is impossible. The HIV virus dies upon exposure to oxygen and
would not survive on a tanning bed. What's more, the U.S. Center for
Disease Control says the odds of contracting any virus from a tanning
bed are "extremely remote." Furthermore, professional tanning salons
sanitize tanning equipment before every tanning session.
Indoor tanning is riskier than outdoor tanning.
Reality: That's absolutely false. Indoor tanning clients are exposed to a
scientifically controlled dosage of ultraviolet light carefully
formulated to tan you with a minimal risk of sunburn. The U.S. Food
and Drug Administration has established exposure times for tanning
units, guidelines that are clearly marked on each machine. That kind
of control is virtually impossible outdoors, where variables such as
seasonality, time of day, location, geography, weather conditions,
altitude and the Earth's thinning ozone layer make sunburn much more
likely. Because sunburn is the main risk factor for skin damage, it's
actually smarter to tan indoors.
I heard about a woman
who fried her internal organs from too much tanning.
Reality: "The Legend of the Roasted Tanner" is a farce. Ultraviolet light,
whether from the sun or from a tanning unit, does not penetrate past
your skin. It is impossible to "fry" any internal organs in a tanning
bed. This myth is what is commonly referred to as an urban legend,
perpetuated by ignorance of ultraviolet light and the tanning process.
I hear that tanning isn't as popular as it used to be.
Reality: Not true. More than 28 million Americans tan indoors, a number
that increases steadily year after year. More and more people are
tanning for the control, convenience, speed and pure enjoyment of
tanning in a salon.
Indoor tanning is like a cigarette
for your skin.
Reality: This is a ludicrous comparison. Smoking subjects your lungs to an
unnatural compounds that your body is not designed to process. Tanning
is your body's natural reaction to sunlight. Your body is designed to
tan to help prevent sunburn. Your body is not designed to process
cigarette smoke. Incidentally, smokers' risk of contracting lung
cancer is hundreds of times higher than non-smokers' risk. On the
other hand, in most studies conducted to date, indoor tanners and
non-tanners have no statistically different risk of contracting skin
cancer.
NEXT: Tanning
Precautions Your Should Know About |
