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Study warns of the darker side of tanning

CARLY WEEKS

From Tuesday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 3:27 PM EST 14/10/08

New research by the Canadian Cancer Society indicates that the industry is failing to protect clients from potential risks ...Read the full article

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  1. Jorly fuster from Canada writes: This is what I don't understand and what they're not explaining properly. If I use a tanning bed and I don't burn is it still bad for you.?
  2. J S from Canada writes: "The tanning bed industry is failing to warn consumers about the potential health risks of artificial tanning and doesn't seem to prevent young teens from using them, despite warnings from Health Canada, according to a study released today by the Canadian Cancer Society."

    Potential health risks and preventing teens from using the beds is bad for profits. As with any unregulated industry, they'll do what they want in order to maximize profits, whether it puts the pubic at risk or not. 'Self-regulation' is putting the fox in the henhouse and saying, don't eat them - okay, we're trusting you...

    Jorly fuster from Canada writes - as I understand it from reading other articles on tanning beds, I think the answer to your question is yes. It's the UV rays that are harmful whether you burn or not. Other posters - please correct me if I'm wrong.
  3. N S from Canada writes: Ah, yes. The same people that decry the tobacco industry, with all it's addictive carcinogens, paying to have their skin roasted. Nice.

    A rash of skin cancer will suck dry our health care system in 25 years.
  4. Pamphleteer . from Canada writes: I saw a couple of the girls from high school (8 years ago) recently and they fake bake regularly. They look 15 years older than they should look. Pathetic. Why would anyone do this to themselves.
  5. S A from Canada writes: Where are the parents in this who should be noticing their noticeably darker children? Parenting minors starts at home.
  6. Aries The Ram from Canada writes: Duh! How many times does is have to be said that using tanning beds is harmful to the skin. People should be aware by now that the rays are very aging. If you love the idea of wrinkles and potential brown spots, go ahead and use them, but if one has any sense, stay away. Because of the possibility of future skin cancer, tanning beds should be banned outright. Let us all limit ourselves to the natural way of acquiring wrinkles and cancer spots by baking in the sun.
  7. Kim Philby from Canada writes: N S from Canada: you say the same people decrying the tobacco industry are roasting themselves on tanning beds? Um...who are you talking about? Where in the article are tanning bed users linked to being against the tobacco industry?
  8. Jorly fuster from Canada writes: Yes, but my question still hasn't been answered. I've used tanning beds in the past in small time increments and I've never burned myself...is it still harmful?
  9. Coitus Delectus from Edmonton, Canada writes: How is the use of a tanning bed any more harmful than getting a tan the old fashioned way?

    There is nothing about the use of these machines that has shown to be any worse for you than regular exposure to the sun.

    Why does the cancer society need to attack an industry when they could be spending their resources on educating the people about exposure to "all" UV rays including those naturally occurring any time you walk outside? They can't extort money from the sun is why.
  10. Ed Anger from Canada writes: Completely contradictory against studies showing that the majority of Canadians are vitamin D defecient. Some major scientists believe that the risks of skin cancer are small compared to the overwhelming benefits of increasing Vitamin D levels.
    If you had to pick between the lessor of the two evils statistically vitamin D defeciency will harm you a lot more than skin cancer.
    Best way to get Vitamin D is sunshine or tanning beds.
  11. Justin Quiring from Calgary, Canada writes: Gee, I thought I read a few months ago (in the G&M no less) that vitamin D was found to be a huge factor in avoiding cancer, and the risk of skin cancer from exposure to the sun pales in comparison (no pun intended) to the benefits of the increased vitamin D, and that the advice to avoid the sun at all costs could be the biggest mis-diagnosis in the history of cancer treatment. Do the scientists change their minds that quickly? Or did I miss a retraction?
  12. G H from Megacity, Canada writes: Hmmmm .... not sure how I feel about this one. I am one of the fortunate persons I guess as I get a very dark tan with very little exposure to the sun or tanning beds (which many friends are envious ... why I don't know). I would think that anything in moderation should be fine actually. If you bake for hours either in the sun or the beds you are going to pay aprice ultimately. There are far more serious products that need regulation than tanning beds. I work in a convenience store and we have a soccer feild just a km. down the road .. the number of parents buying their children 'monster' or 'redbull' energy drinks before the game is alarming. Some weekends we sell 100 - 200 of these baby's when there is a tournament. And the kids they are feeding them to - 8 yrs to 15 yrs.... they help them play better ...
  13. Tim Carter from Canada writes: The suffocating Nanny State strikes again!

    If they really want to do something to save lives they should ban: motorcycles, rockclimbing, skiing, travel to foreign countries that have an advisory, getting a Humanities degree without a job lined up, sleeping under coconut trees, selling or possessing peanuts (think of those with allergies), and so on.

    I mean, we just can't stop this until all the world is utterly SAFE!
  14. Ed Anger from Canada writes: Tim dont type so much or you will get carpa tunnell.
  15. John Hamilton from Toronto, Canada writes: And then there was that white guy who wrote the book "Black Like Me" and darkened his skin artificially with tanning devices and drugs. He died shortly thereafter, his body riddled with cancers.
  16. Tracy B. from GAS STATION, Canada writes: proper sun exposure never produce a much noticeable difference in skin tone. everyone should expose themselves to at least 20 minutes a day for nutrition and health. any tanning is very unhealthy and will create crocodile skin in the future. and a lot of spots.
  17. Russell Barth from Canada writes: how many people have died from tanning beds. how many have died from using marijuana? think about it.
  18. E P from Canada writes: Jorly - Yes it is still possible to get skin cancer without getting a sunburn and there have been several studies on the subject lately. Some also point to sunscreen helping to cause certain types of cancer. This is from Wikipedia:

    "The use of sunscreen is known to prevent the direct DNA damage that causes sunburn and the two most common forms of skin cancer, basal-cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.[15] However, if sunscreen penetrates into the skin, it promotes the indirect DNA damages, which cause the most lethal form of skin cancer, malignant melanoma.[16] This form of skin cancer is rare, but it is responsible for 75% of all skin cancer-related deaths. Increased risk of malignant melanoma in sunscreen users has been the subject of many epidemiological studies"
  19. Carlos Jose from Edmonton, Canada writes: I'm with Tim Carter on this one - we certainly don't need the state restricting our freedoms even further. I would love to see an honest assesment on the regulations already in place in our country - I don't think we would be so quick to call ourselves "free" if we were truly aware how much control the government already has over our day to day lives. Regulation is never the answer. Advise people of the risks and let them make their own decisions, but don't regulate away more of our freedom, limited as it is.
  20. The Natrix from Toronto, Canada writes: "Ed Anger from Canada writes: Completely contradictory against studies showing that the majority of Canadians are vitamin D defecient.

    Best way to get Vitamin D is sunshine or tanning beds."

    "Coitus Delectus from Edmonton, Canada writes: How is the use of a tanning bed any more harmful than getting a tan the old fashioned way?"

    ========================

    What's wrong with you people!? Do some research and use common sense. There's a difference between getting a moderate amount of UV rays from the sun, vs blasting your whole naked body at a very intense and consistent level.
  21. Joel Harrison from Waterloo, Canada writes: Jorly fuster from Canada writes: Yes, but my question still hasn't been answered. I've used tanning beds in the past in small time increments and I've never burned myself...is it still harmful?

    Yes, Jorly, every time your skin absorbs a photon of UV light (especially UVB light) there is potential for DNA damage, and hence, mutation (i.e., cancer).
  22. Cland Destine from Toronto, Canada writes: How about these giants of thinking talk about limiting a cars ability to go past 100km instead of crap like this?

    More Ontarians dye in car accidents that from violence, and this is what they've been working on?

    And ladies and gents, lifes a terminal ride. Yeah go ahead, play it safe, live in a bubble...and guess what....you can still die terribly and early.

    Besides, I'll take dying somewhat attractive and young to the kidney dialysis, wheelchair, adult diaper years.
  23. Cland Destine from Toronto, Canada writes: And yes, tanning booths could harm you.

    As could someone selling you tainted meat, or water....

    So yeah, go figure.

    Most likely, according to figures, you'll die from stroke or heart attack...but do please continue eating burgers, while refraining from smokes or tanning!

    You really think you can control your destiny don't you...bwahahahah!
  24. Trixie V from Canada writes: My personal opinion is to let them roast themselves. There is so much information about the dangers of UV rays that if a person wants to tan, so be it. However, I don't believe that as a taxpayer that we should have to pay for their treatment.

    I am an extremely pale person (Casper is one of the nicknames I've had to endure) and slather on Sunscreen, wear a hat and cover up when out in the sun. Instead of legislating these salons, they should offer a tax incentive for sunscreen, at $15 a bottle, it adds up.

    That being said, if you want to make an impression on teenagers, maybe you should show them what happens to their skin when they tan. I'm over 30 and I look younger than these 20something girls who tan.
  25. Jorly fuster from Canada writes: Thank you Joel for answering my question.
  26. J L from Toronto, Canada writes: Tanning beds may be bad but what about natural tans - there seems to be a whole lot of credible doctors and researchers saying that Vitmain D is extremely important to one's health.
  27. Lefty Lou from Canada writes: Did you ever hear the expression: Moderation in everything.? Almost everything can be fatal if overdone. Tanning beds give you a much more powerful dose of UV than the sun does. I've heard of people dieing from taking too much salt, too much carrot juice, apple seeds (they contain arsenic) & overeating (or undereating). It is probably a good idea to use a tanning bed, moderately of course, B4 flying south for a winter break in the sun, to prevent cooking yourself in the first few days.
  28. j wilson from vancouver, Canada writes: Trixie V, make sure you read the part of the article connecting sunscreen with cancer.
  29. j wilson from vancouver, Canada writes: Sorry, Trixie, I didnt mean in this article - there are some strange articles Ive seen connecting sunscreen with melanoma (not as frequent as from sunburn, of course).

    I, like you, am prone to burn. Im pretty much a shirt and hat guy now.
  30. Dick Garneau from Canada writes: I am fortunate, as a youth, we sun tanned every summer to see who in the family could get the darkest. We never sunburned. We were of Metis extract, so likely had some tolerance from the Indian DNA. No problems with our skin, even in old age. We however would never consider using tanning beds. Folks of other ethnic origins don't have the same tolerance. Research should identify the ethnic origin of subjects, as it does make a difference. Some of my friends from pure European stock, did get skin cancers and that pre-aging look.
    .
  31. Josh Taylor from St. John's Dublin, Canada writes: These things are disgusting. They turn people orange and they age you. Sun worshippers and tanners look like leather purses in their 40's. It is horrible.

    I can't think of anyone with half a clue who would get in one of these things for purely cosmetic reasons.
  32. guy tozer from saskatoon, Canada writes: John Hamilton from Toronto> You better get your facts straight before you post false and misleading information!! John Howard Griffin was the author of Black Like Me, who did change his white skin to dark by taking "melanin",and NOT using tanning devises as you stated. But your biggest "lie" was stating that he died, "with his body riddled with cancers".. He died of health problems, not any of which were cancer. So you can now take foot out of mouth and continue your day . Cheers!
  33. guy tozer from saskatoon, Canada writes: John Hamilton from Toronto> In addition, Griffin did this when he was 39 years old and died at age 60, hardly "shortly after" as you spouted!!
  34. No Name Necessary from Canada writes: just ban them....the whole idea of them is ridiculous. How vain can one be.
  35. W W from Canada writes: I wonder why the health regulators in Canada dont use the same approach in regulating the health clubs industry (i.e., jims). The teens and anyone in jims are also susceptible to injuries. The jim sales people are using non substantiated information in luring people into the clubs. There is no control over the way the machines are used by people unless you hire a personal trainer. In many cases the muscular and skeletal injuries lasts life time. The treatment of these injuries is more expensive than treatment of skin cancer.
  36. W W from Canada writes: Trixie V from Canada writes: My personal opinion is to let them roast themselves. There is so much information about the dangers of UV rays that if a person wants to tan, so be it.

    .......

    Actually the info is not there and for a young person it could be confusing. In the past year there is lots of Vitamin D talks suggesting that some sunshine could be beneficial. If my kid asks me whether tanning salon is the same as getting the same amount of sun shine, I would have to do a research before giving an answer. But many kids dont think about asking questions.
  37. Lee Turner from Canada writes: Yeah, I agree with many posters here. Why isn't the Canadian Cancer Society more concerned with speeding cars, the use of gym equipment or the many other non-cancer related dangers out there?

    But seriously, let's educate people to the risks, and let them decide for themselves. If they get skin cancer, its their own damn fault. It's like smoking, there've been decades of public awareness campaigns and everyone knows the risks, and if you still decide you want to smoke, YOU bear all the consequences of your actions.

    Personally, I think the best way to discourage young people from tanning is to publically ridicule them. Point at them, and loudly laugh about how ridiculous their orange skin looks.
  38. The Truth Is Out There from Canada writes: I just love it when people cite wikipedia (E P from Canada@ 9:36 am).
  39. Stephen Dedalus from Canada writes: I know women in their twenties and early thirties who visit tanning salons frequently, and I feel sorry for them--our building complex is full of nicely tanned women in their 40s who look 65, and I can already see the effects of the tanning beds on these younger women, but . . . nope, gotta get a nice tan, even in winter.

    Fortunately, I don't know any of the males who go to tanning salons. Unless they're professional bodybuilders, they disturb me. Actually, the bodybuilders disturb me anyway, and not just because I have a pasty, unimposing physique.
  40. S H from Canada writes: Tim Carter - Nicely said! There are so many other worse things - seriously.
  41. Saskatchewan Seal Hunters Assoc. from Canada writes: We have a few doctors in our area from South Africa originally. What they keep saying is, that most people here in Canada look at least 10-15 years younger then people from South Africa, mainly because of the sun. I can name a lot of people, mainly women, who loved getting tanned, and now that they have gotten older, look much older then they really are. Some look like dried out leather.
  42. John Connor from Canada writes: N S from Canada writes: Ah, yes. The same people that decry the tobacco industry, with all it's addictive carcinogens, paying to have their skin roasted. Nice.

    A rash of skin cancer will suck dry our health care system in 25 years.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Hardly N S from Canada. More likely it will be the pudgy little diabetic narccists that eat poorly and spend more of their time on line, that waste our precious health care dollars, but you make a good point. We have to find a legitimate way to boot them out side, lose 50 pounds and start a proper excercise regimine. Wii nyone???
  43. Coitus Delectus from Edmonton, Canada writes: The Natrix from Toronto, Canada writes: What's wrong with you people!? Do some research and use common sense. There's a difference between getting a moderate amount of UV rays from the sun, vs blasting your whole naked body at a very intense and consistent level.
    ____________________________________________________________

    What have you got against being naked? What's wrong with you?

    I have plenty of common sense, and I've seen the research. Too much UV light is harmful, no matter the source. Tanning beds are no more harmful than the sun. What's next? Do you want to outlaw summer?
  44. Misery No one from Toronto, Canada writes: Amazing how popular they are. And how dangerous they are.
  45. comrad tax us from Canada writes: Comrads....terrible habit....but....boy do they look great tanned! Remember to vote Liberal on Monday...we need higher taxes and bigger government and less accountability....the Quebec way!
  46. comrad tax us from Canada writes: Sorry Comrads....remember to vote liberal on Tuesday!
  47. Carmen Mattioli from Silves, Portugal writes: This article portraits Canadian paranoia at its best! So here are two statistics everyone in Canada should be reminded of; 1. People living in southern European countries where tanning in the Sun is pretty much a religion have 1/3 less incidence of skin cancer than people living in northern countries. 2. Non skin cancers are 300 times more likely to cause harm or death than any form of skin cancer.
    And some common sense factors, 1. It is widely known that exposure to sunlight produces naturally occurring vitamin D a hormone like substance that helps the body stay healthy. 2. Many studies have pointed to the fact that vitamin D prevents cancer developing. 3. A person requires more than 6 months of strong sunlight exposure to produce enough vitamin D to be used by the body. 4. Canadians and other northern latitude populations are some of the developed world most sickly people, with high rates of cancer occurrence, along with higher than normal incidence of viral and allergic problems. 5. Bones do not mature and harden properly without sufficient exposure to sunlight.
    All that said, it is also known that people with fair skin should be careful with sunlight exposure and limit it to when the sun is weaker in the sky. As well people with fair skin should not be a guideline for how other individuals chose to expose themselves to sunlight. So please get off your ignorance and get some color on your skin, and if your skin is fair just be careful and don't give the whole population a fear they don't need.
  48. A S from Toronto, Canada writes: Geez, Whites want to be tanned, other racial groups want to be lighter... seems people just want what they don't have. I know, nothing new.
  49. Rishi Verma from Toronto, Canada writes: I am not against tanning. Tanning is good so long it is naturlal, under the sun and not artificial. Some ppl go for tanning because they think tanning makes skin look healthy. What is the point of making skin just look healthy instead of making it really healthy. Good natural food, disciplined life style and regular workout shoud be the focus instead of tanning. Tanning may give quick result like an instant coffee or fast food but does not go in long run.
  50. Justine Catto from Canada writes: I have to say that I am pleased to see that in this article they atleast let the tanning industry have a chance to defend itself. Being a Tanning salon owner myself I am disappointed in the amount of people that believe we would want to harm anyone in anyway in order to make more profit. I won't say that there aren't some tanning salons out there that are very irresponsible and may slack in some areas of training. But I ask that you don't judge all salons on others mistakes. I take pride in my salon and staff for making sure that each and every person has a fair evaluation of skin type to determine exposure times and a tanning schedule based on their individual needs. We also do not allow anyone under the age of 16 to tan. All clients must fill out a client card (as explained in the article) before they are allowed in the tanning beds. We also teach the importance of smart tanning indoors and outdoors to avoid sunburn and skin damage. For anyone who is interested in reading the truth about tanning you may find this website helpful:

    tanningtruth.com

    I understand that everyone is allowed to their own opinion, I would just ask that you hear both sides first before judging.

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