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Ah, doesn’t the photo above look glamorous? Not! Now with summer over, I know a lot of women may want to preserve their tan by visiting tanning beds.
However, I cannot discourage you enough to visit tanning beds. Whether it’s to prolong a tan or get the “best” tan, I don’t know why tanning beds are not illegal yet (although Australia have banned them, so hopefully it’s in the works), because tanning beds are DEADLY and just horrible for your health. There are a few salons opening around my area claiming it’s safe and healthy, which is crazy! It is absolutely not healthy, and are “definite causes of cancer” (source).
I wanna know why would anyone want to increase their risk of cancer?!
Here’s more scary facts about tanning beds:
- Skin cancer is one of the most common form of cancer, and is also one of the most preventable.
- Tanning beds are just as deadly as arsenic, according to international cancer experts (source).
- Using tanning beds before the age of 35 increases the risk of developing melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, by 59 to 75% (source)
- New claims of “safe” and “healthier” tanning beds are all lies. In fact, there are no such thing as an healthy or safe tan (source).
- Skin cancer in women is increasing, with the most cases from tanning beds (source).
So is there a safe tan?
There are safer ways to get a year-long tan other than tanning beds. Spray tans are generally considered the safer option, but the spray tan does contain the ingredient dihydroxyacetone (DHA). This ingredient is approved by the FDA for external use only (source), so for tanning booths, this isn’t great as you tend to breathe in the spray tan. So unless you are wearing goggles and something to protect your nose and mouth, I wouldn’t recommend a spray tan either. To me, the only really safe stuff is a self tanner lotion without DHA. Here are some of the best:
- Melvita Prosun Self-Tanning Gel Cream. This product contains erythrulose instead of DHA, a plant-based bronzing agent, made from cane sugar, which gives a gradual and even tan. This self tanner also includes coconut and sunflower oils to moiturize and protect skin. Available internationally at FeelUnique.com and JohnLewis.
- He Shi One Day Tan. This product is also an award-winning self tanner that can not only be used for your body but your face as well. It’s free of parabens and contains Vitamins E and B5 to soothe and protect the skin. Also available on FeelUnique.com.
- Lavera Self Tanning Lotion. An award-winning, certified natural self tanner, it contains organic soy extracts ingredient instead of DHA, and also contains organic macadamia nut, organic Jojoba oil and organic sunflower oil for easy application and soft, smooth skin. Available at Amazon.com and my favorite site, iHerb.com, which has cheap international shipping rates.
Don’t forget that when you are in the sun, you must wear sunscreen. Check out Sunscreen Myths & Facts for more information on the importance of sunscreen, as well as my personal sunscreen recommendations.
Not convinced?
Still think that skin cancer “won’t happen to you?” Then log on to Google, type in “skin cancer photos” and that should do it. The picture on the right is melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, which is on the rise thanks to tanning beds.
Again, you raise your chance of getting it to 75% if you use tanning beds, so please don’t take that chance just for a nice tan.
Spread the word
If you were once a tanning bed user and have decided to stop using tanning beds, well done! Congratulations on taking care of your body and your health. Please share this post to any friends who you know uses tanning beds and you’d like to warn them as well.
If you’d like to find out more news about skin cancer and tanning, you can check out their Skin Cancer Prevention resource page here.