The Darker Side of Tanning

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The Darker Side of Tanning Today, tanning is taken very lightly. It is considered a necessity if one is to be beautiful. Information on safety seems skewed. The dermatologist’s cry that tanning is evil is a quite lament that often falls on deaf, unwilling to better hear ears. Tanning salon owners (and their commissioned employees) regale us tales of how much worse tanning beds were “back in the day”. Let’s discuss! FACT: Newer models of tanning beds tend to use more UVA long range waves, compared to older beds using shorter wave UVB rays. However, UVA rays penetrate deeply and can weaken the skin’s connective tissues. Those are the same connective tissues that hold our skin to our cheekbones and jaw bones, allowing our skin to be taut and plump. Weakening connective tissues results in a wrinkled, leathery appearance, and can negatively affect the immune system. ME: Personally, at 25 years of age, I am not concerned with wrinkles. I can barely plan 3 weeks in advance, let alone a life time. I just want to look healthy in shorts and skirts. FACT: Basic Skin 101 teaches that tanning is not a sign of health, but rather the opposite. The human body was designed with several systems in place to protect us from our natural or induced environments. For example, we naturally shy away of the hot oven door and automatically shiver to keep ourselves warm in cold places. Tanning is an automatic response of melanin (pigment) that is creating a literal canopy of shade to protect your fragile skin. When skin takes on a shade of tan, it is from the skin saying “Whoa there, buddy. We’ve gotten a little too close to danger today and we’ll attempt to make sure it doesn’t happen again.” ME: Okay, so my tan is like a little army there to protect me when the enemy sun gets to close. Can’t I just write up an executive order, declare a draft, and send ALL the melanin to the front

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