Dangerous Tanning Is on the Rise, Suntan Myths Persist

By Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, May 27, 2022 (HealthDay News) — While most individuals in all probability know it is not protected to get a sunburn, many could not understand that tanning additionally will increase the danger of pores and skin most cancers and untimely pores and skin getting older.

A brand new survey of greater than 1,000 U.S. adults by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) discovered a pointy rise in each tanning and variety of sunburns final yr, in comparison with 2020. And because the summer time season begins, the AAD is encouraging individuals to guard themselves.

“A tan is your physique’s response to harm,” stated Dr. Elizabeth Bahar Houshmand, a Dallas-based dermatologist.

“When you tan, you might be deliberately placing your well being in danger,” she stated in an academy information launch. “If you wish to look tan, think about using a self-tanning product, however proceed to make use of sunscreen with it.”

The AAD recommends in search of shade, particularly between 10 a.m. and a pair of p.m. when the solar’s rays are strongest. Seek shade in case your shadow seems shorter than you might be, Houshmand suggested.

Wear sun-protective clothes, similar to a light-weight long-sleeved shirt and pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sun shades with UV safety. Clothes with an ultraviolet safety issue (UPF) on the label present extra safety.

Apply a broad-spectrum, waterproof sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or greater to all uncovered pores and skin. Broad-spectrum sunscreen offers safety from each UVA and UVB rays.

About 1 in 5 Americans will develop pores and skin most cancers of their lifetime, and 197,700 new circumstances of melanoma, the deadliest type of pores and skin most cancers, are anticipated to be recognized within the United States this yr, in accordance with AAD.

In this latest survey, 63% of respondents reported getting a suntan final yr, up from 54% in 2020. About 33% have been sunburned in 2021, in comparison with 25% in 2020.

One blistering sunburn throughout childhood or adolescence can almost double an individual’s threat of growing melanoma.

About 28% of sunburned survey respondents stated their burn was unhealthy sufficient that their garments felt uncomfortable. Top locations for getting burns have been the face, arms, shoulders and neck.

And almost half of respondents believed a number of tanning myths, the survey discovered. About 22% wrongly stated a base tan will stop a sunburn and 18% stated it could lower the pores and skin most cancers threat. One in 5 stated they thought tanning was protected so long as they did not burn and 13% thought tanning was wholesome.

About 53% stated individuals with tanned pores and skin look more healthy.

About 39% of respondents have been unaware of a number of sunburn dangers. Among these: that it’s potential to get sunburned on a cloudy day or via a automotive window; that individuals with darkish pores and skin can burn, and that sunburns improve pores and skin most cancers threat.

“This improve in sunburns may be very regarding,” Houshmand stated. “Both tanning and sunburning harm your pores and skin. The extra you tan and sunburn, the extra this harm builds up over time, growing your threat of untimely pores and skin getting older, together with age spots, sagging and wrinkling, and pores and skin most cancers.”

More info

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has extra on pores and skin most cancers.

SOURCE: American Academy of Dermatology, information launch, May 24, 2022