Are the Effects of Suntan More Than Skin Deep?

The golden skin obtained after hours of sun bathing or through a tanning salon can certainly make you look really healthy and glowing.

According to a survey, 2.3 million teenagers are annual indoor tanning clients in the United States alone while others say 5 percent of the 28 million customers are teenagers. But is there more to sun tanning than what meets the eye? Themdguru looks for answers…

A research by Jody A Levine, MD, paediatrician and senior dermatology resident at SUNY Downstate Medical Centre in Brooklyn, deduced that ultraviolet radiationdefine is a carcinogendefine like tobacco. This view has been endorsed by the National Institutes of Health.

World Health Organization rules say that no one below 18 years should use a sun bed. The American Academy of Dermatology and the American Medical Association have asked for a ban on any tanning product outside of medical purpose. The FDA too discourages people from using tanning products.

The proponents of sun tanning however are cry foul about these findings.

So What Exactly is Sun Tanning?

Scientifically, sun tanning is a protection mechanism for the skin. Granules of melanin on the skin surface, acts as a screen to filter the harmful Ultra Violet rays. They protect the softer inner layers. From the 1980s, dermatologists started pointing out that tanning especially indoor tanning can result in skin cancerdefine.

The natural colour of the skin and eyes determine the effect of the tanning. If a person is very fair with very little melanin in the body, a deep tan is hardly possible. It has sometimes been seen that in the case of red heads, the skin develops freckles instead of tanning.

What are the Harmful Effects of Sun Tanning?

o Premature Aging: Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays results in premature aging. Only one percent of the sun’s radiation causes this effect on the skin. With the short wave ultraviolet rays, the cells with pigments just under the epidermis get activated by the ultraviolet rays and create a brown pigment called melanin. The longer rays work on the present melanin and turn them brown. Most people use oils and lotions to retail this tan. However, it slows down the regeneration of the skin cells and all the dead cells block the surface of the skin.

o Base Tan in indoor Tanning: The indoor tanning salons provide a service known as “base tan” which according to them protects the skin from unplanned exposure. Dermatologists however feel that because of base tan people get reckless and callous. They do not use sunscreen thinking the base tan will protect them, which is sadly not the case.

o Vitamin D: Exposure of the skin to the sun produces Vitamin D which is very good for the body. Proponents of indoor tanning say that it is not possible to generate much vitamin D through natural sun tanning. So indoor tanning is good. But the other group says, too much exposure to UV rays slows down the production of Vitamin D.

o Skin Cancer: 90 percent of all skin cancers are resultants of too much exposure to UV radiations. Excessive tanning can certainly lead to skin cancers.

Protective Measures Against Excessive Sun Tan

Sunscreens: Opaque sun blocks are available to protect the skin from overexposure. Be cautious while buying sunscreens. Some products are simple moisturizers or lotions, which actually attract rays. Sunscreen should be applied to all exposed body parts especially the face and back of hands and knees and other sensitive parts.
Cocoa Butter, Cider vinegar or salad oil can help preventing overexposure as well.

Too much sunburn can be painful and irritating. Thankfully, there are some homemade solutions to remove the pain. Like cucumber, vinegar and water solution, buttermilk and rose water solution, egg and castor oil mixed etc can be used for quick effects. But of course these are not solutions for the deep effects that suntan can cause. Avoiding prolonged exposure and proper sunscreens can help in preventing serious outcomes from sun tanning.