Is it Safe for Men to Tan in Tanning Beds?
Health and appearance conscious men and women have been admiring the look of beautifully bronzed skin for decades. Men, especially, love the way tanned skin emphasizes the appearance of well-sculpted muscles. While a golden tan may appear healthy, it may be evidence of dangerously damaged cells that can cause illness or even death in the years to come. Sun exposure also causes premature aging and eye damage. No, indoor tanning cannot be considered safe for men or for anybody else. Does this Spark an idea?
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Explanation
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While there are no special risks to the male reproductive system from indoor tanning, the cancer-causing ultraviolet radiation emitted from such beds is exceptionally dangerous for both men and women.
Risks
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According to the Skin Cancer Foundation's website, "The majority of people diagnosed with melanoma are white men over age 50." As men age, their risks of encountering deadly complications related to tanning exceeds that of women.
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Causes
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The danger in using a tanning bed comes from their cancer-causing ultraviolet radiation. Ultraviolet radiation can cause skin cancer, which, in some cases, can be lethal. According to U.S. News and World Report, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has recently concluded that tanning in tanning beds increased the risk of melanoma by 75 percent in teens and young adults.
Claims
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The tanning industry has claimed, in national commercials, that tanning in tanning beds is no worse than tanning under the sun, and moderation in both cases is key. The commercials suggest that tanning beds may even be healthy because they help the body to produce much-needed vitamin D.
Fact Vs. Fiction
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Tanning in a tanning bed is not the same as tanning in the sun. "Frequent tanners using new high-pressure sunlamps may receive as much as 12 times the annual UVA dose compared to the dose they receive from sun exposure," according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.
Benefits Vs. Risks
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While vitamin D is crucial for optimum health, and vitamin D deficiency is common, sun and tanning bed exposure is a dangerous and inaccurate way to boost vitamin D production. The potential risks of habitual ultraviolet ray exposure from either tanning beds or the sun far outweigh the possible benefits.
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