Although our society as a whole is realizing that tanning salons are not healthy for our skin, how much are our efforts going to decrease the amount of individuals who still use the tanning beds. In reality, law makers, doctors, and researchers, can provide the public with the information they need to educate themselves about the harmful rays from the tanning bed lights, but it comes down to the person’s own choice. They can ignore or get around some laws that are put in place if it meant that they were still able to keep visiting the salons in trying to achieve the perfect skin color they want. It is also difficult for the younger generation to believe the facts about skin damage and cancer because it doesn’t show up right away. Many people are also very naive and believe that something bad could or would never happen to them. When images of celebrities are constantly posted with them having the golden brown tan, a majority of the people will continue to use the tanning salons despite their knowledge about how bad it is for your skin. Our society puts so much emphasis on physical appearances that many people go to great lengths and spend tons of money in order to feel “beautiful”, even if it meant sacrificing your health. America’s popular culture influences so many Americans as well as people from other countries who want to look and do what we are doing. I think the only way for people to decrease the amount of time they spend at tanning salons would be for famous celebrities to speak out about the detrimental effects it can have on your skin and that there are other products out there that can achieve that same effect such as tanning lotions or getting a spray tan.
Sources:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/01/060117084553.htm
http://www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/sun_darker.html
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content
/NWS_1_1x_Tanning_Beds_May_Increase_Skin_Cancer_Risk.asp
http://www.ncsl.org/IssuesResearch/Health/TanningRestrictionsforMinorsstatelawssummary/tabid/14394/Default.aspx
http://money.cnn.com/2010/03/24/news/economy/tanning_tax/
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_5172258
Friday, May 14, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
part 2
The Los Angeles Times did a survey that reported misconceptions that many Americans share about tanning. Their results came out to 37% mistakenly believe that indoor tanning beds are safer than outdoor sun exposure, 40% aren’t aware that burns and tans during childhood are linked to skin cancer in adults, 52% think a base tan protects the skin from further sun exposure even though it doesn’t, and 65% don’t realize that all UV rays are harmful to the skin. While so many American’s believe these misconceptions it is no wonder that skin cancer is the most common out of all the cancers and accounts for nearly half of all the skin cancers in the United States. Tanning beds are also linked to the type of skin cancer known as melanoma which is the deadliest type of skin cancer if it is not treated early.
So what exactly is our country doing to help prevent skin cancer from tanning salons?
The American Cancer Society (ACS) is a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization that has information about all kinds of cancers. To prevent skin cancer they are trying to educate the public about the dangers to the skin from the exposure of the sun and the harmful effects of tanning salons. They have offered prevention programs at schools, childcare centers, primary care offices, and beach and recreation areas. The ACS also advocates with lawmakers at both the state and federal levels to ensure responsible health policies are enacted and to increase funding for research and testing and treatment coverage. The society also provides support services and programs with those and their families who are dealing with cancer.
Research indicates that high risk exposure happens more commonly in teens and that blistering sunburns and overexposure during childhood greatly increase the chances of developing skin cancer later in life. For this reason law makers in some states are regulating the use of tanning beds to minors. These policies include having parental permission to anyone under the age of 18, limiting the time that can spent in the tanning bed, and providing and requiring the use of eye protection. A Denver law also doesn’t allow minor to use a tanning bed unless they have a prescription from their doctor. Doctors are only allowed to give out these prescriptions to those who have a rare skin condition or psychological disorder that could improve with tanning.
An FDA advisory meeting was held on March 2010 to seek independent, professional expertise and advice on regulatory issues related to tanning devices. These new regulations may include revising some requirements of tanning beds and strengthening the warning labels so that the tanning bed user would be more aware of the risks.
The Obama Administration has just approved that a 10% tax would be placed on those who use indoor tanning salons in an effort to help support the health care bill. The 10% tanning tax replaced the 5% Botox tax that was originally included in the bill. The tax would be put on electronic products designed for tanning that use one or more ultraviolet lamps with wavelengths between 200 and 400 nanometers. Spray tans and spray lotions are not included in this tax. A 10% tax could help increase the amount of tanning salon users which in turn will hopefully decrease the amount of skin cancers in America.
Although this tax may help save many lives, many tanning salon owners and customers are outraged by this tax. Joseph Levy, vice president of the International Smart Tan Network, estimates that 9,000 jobs may be taken away as well as the closing of over 1,000 different tanning salons. He states, “the tax also targets middle-class and female business owners, with about two-thirds of tanning salons in the U.S. owned by women”.
So what exactly is our country doing to help prevent skin cancer from tanning salons?
The American Cancer Society (ACS) is a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization that has information about all kinds of cancers. To prevent skin cancer they are trying to educate the public about the dangers to the skin from the exposure of the sun and the harmful effects of tanning salons. They have offered prevention programs at schools, childcare centers, primary care offices, and beach and recreation areas. The ACS also advocates with lawmakers at both the state and federal levels to ensure responsible health policies are enacted and to increase funding for research and testing and treatment coverage. The society also provides support services and programs with those and their families who are dealing with cancer.
Research indicates that high risk exposure happens more commonly in teens and that blistering sunburns and overexposure during childhood greatly increase the chances of developing skin cancer later in life. For this reason law makers in some states are regulating the use of tanning beds to minors. These policies include having parental permission to anyone under the age of 18, limiting the time that can spent in the tanning bed, and providing and requiring the use of eye protection. A Denver law also doesn’t allow minor to use a tanning bed unless they have a prescription from their doctor. Doctors are only allowed to give out these prescriptions to those who have a rare skin condition or psychological disorder that could improve with tanning.
An FDA advisory meeting was held on March 2010 to seek independent, professional expertise and advice on regulatory issues related to tanning devices. These new regulations may include revising some requirements of tanning beds and strengthening the warning labels so that the tanning bed user would be more aware of the risks.
The Obama Administration has just approved that a 10% tax would be placed on those who use indoor tanning salons in an effort to help support the health care bill. The 10% tanning tax replaced the 5% Botox tax that was originally included in the bill. The tax would be put on electronic products designed for tanning that use one or more ultraviolet lamps with wavelengths between 200 and 400 nanometers. Spray tans and spray lotions are not included in this tax. A 10% tax could help increase the amount of tanning salon users which in turn will hopefully decrease the amount of skin cancers in America.
Although this tax may help save many lives, many tanning salon owners and customers are outraged by this tax. Joseph Levy, vice president of the International Smart Tan Network, estimates that 9,000 jobs may be taken away as well as the closing of over 1,000 different tanning salons. He states, “the tax also targets middle-class and female business owners, with about two-thirds of tanning salons in the U.S. owned by women”.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
part 1
Physical appearances have always been a very important aspect in America’s society. Look at the cover of any beauty magazine or advertisement and we see beautiful men and women posted on them. Our society bases first impressions on how beautiful that person is by the shared standards and beliefs of what our culture believes them to be. What America believes as being “beautiful” is flawless tanned skin, long hair, big boobs, perfect white teeth, tall, and super skinny. Many Americans will spend thousands of dollars a year buying products or services that they believe would enhance their physical appearances. Many Americans especially women spend their money on dangerous surgery procedures to change or enhance a feature of their body. Tanning beds are especially common because many believe that tan skinned looks much sexier. Tanning beds are most commonly used in the months when the individual cannot tan outside from the natural sunlight. They are extremely popular because one can achieve a golden brown tan in about 15 minutes while lying in a tanning bed and can increase the darkness of the tan by continuing to visit the tanning salon. It is not uncommon to hear stories of people who go to great lengths to achieve what they believe is beautiful even if it means harming their body or even risking their lives.
About 30 million Americans visit a tanning salon a year. Of these tanning salon users, 70% are Caucasian women between the ages of 16 and 49. Tanning beds were introduced to the United States by Friedrich Wolff in 1978. They have become very popular since the nineties. Tanning beds are machines in which the individual lies down in for about 12 to 15 minutes to develop a tan. The lights that are used in tanning beds give off mainly ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation. The international Agency for Cancer Research classified UVA as a probable human cancer-causing agent. This is why the tanning salon user is able to achieve the golden tan in such a minimal amount of time.
Many dermatologists and doctors believe that tanning salons are very harmful to the body’s skin and can cause the individual to develop the deadliest skin cancer more easily. There have been many regulations by the government to hopefully decrease the amount of tanning bed users because of its harmful effects.
About 30 million Americans visit a tanning salon a year. Of these tanning salon users, 70% are Caucasian women between the ages of 16 and 49. Tanning beds were introduced to the United States by Friedrich Wolff in 1978. They have become very popular since the nineties. Tanning beds are machines in which the individual lies down in for about 12 to 15 minutes to develop a tan. The lights that are used in tanning beds give off mainly ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation. The international Agency for Cancer Research classified UVA as a probable human cancer-causing agent. This is why the tanning salon user is able to achieve the golden tan in such a minimal amount of time.
Many dermatologists and doctors believe that tanning salons are very harmful to the body’s skin and can cause the individual to develop the deadliest skin cancer more easily. There have been many regulations by the government to hopefully decrease the amount of tanning bed users because of its harmful effects.
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