Chic Beauty And Fashion

Okay, I admit it: I have tanned, in a tanning bed, for almost a decade. That’s a little less than half my life. Whoa… that’s hard to admit. I thought tanning wouldn’t affect my skin or my health. I thought I was invincible. Now it’s catching up to me… or is it?

Do I cut back tanning in a bed, or stop altogether? Do I limit sun exposure, wear sunscreen, and a hat? I know many would say I am stupid for opting for a tan, and I am beginning to wonder if they’re right.

While in the tanning salon, believe it or not, I got a smack in the face from reality central: Which bed do I use, a higher concentration of UVA rays or higher UVB rays? Puzzling, isn’t it? Choose your pick: skin cancer or premature wrinkles.          

Yes, I decided to finally stop dodging the information pelting me from every direction: I began researching the effects of tanning beds.

This is what I found:

UVA rays: Increase melanin. Tan the skin. UVA enters deep into the skin’s tissue and is more likely to cause premature aging.           

UVB rays : Burn the skin. More likely to cause cancer.

Of course, both types of rays can cause skin cancer and premature wrinkling. But each has a distinctly greater effect of either cancer or wrinkling.

Its biology, I don’t want to fight it: it’s natural for skin to age. I don’t want Botox. Ever. I’m still not convinced that tanning in all forms is absolutely evil. I believe a tan can be healthy. But I do wish to tan more responsibly. Less is more, right? 

Pictures courtesy of  georgetowner.com, alibaba.com, homepage.mac.com, jupiterimages.com, and www.pupcity.com