I would like to get a good tan before swimsuit weather arrives. Are tanning salons safe?
No, getting a tan at a tanning salon is not safe. In fact, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), more than 1,500 Americans PER YEAR end up in hospital emergency rooms each year with burns suffered at commercial tanning salons. The effects of long term exposure to the ultraviolet radiation in tanning booths can be extremely harmful, and may cause wrinkles, skin cancer, eye damage and immune system suppression. Melanoma, which now effects 1 in 64 people in the United States, is the deadliest type of skin cancer. This form of skin cancer once affected primarily older people, but now it is seen in people in their 20’s and 30’s. It is always advisable to avoid tanning, to limit your sun exposure and to use a dermatologist-approved sun screen. And if you must have a tan, use self-tanning products. But remember, sunscreen is still necessary to protect your skin even when using self-tanning products.
