The YOU in UVIf YOU have tanned. YOU have thought about tanning. YOU know someone who tans. This is for YOU.

English 3764 On-line Technical Writing

Kelly Morris

The Indoor Tanning ControversyYou Say Tomato, I Say Tomahto:

•“Tanning is a great source of Vitamin D”

•“Sunlight is vital for good health”

•A tan is the body's natural protection against sunburn

•"Repeated exposure to UV rays can cause skin cancer and

premature aging of the skin”

•“Tanning, whether indoor or out, may be somewhat addictive”

•“Ultraviolet light can damage all layers of your skin”

VS

Battle of the Bulbs: Player 1What are the Advocates of Indoor Tanning Saying?

Health Benefits of Vitamin D

•Lowered Hypertension

•Reduced risk of prostate, breast, ovarian cancers

•Lower risk of Osteoporosis

•Lower risk of Type I Diabetes

Psychological Benefits

•The skin is a medium for emotional expression

•Skin is essential to self-esteem

Tan skin can suggest wealth and success

Social advantages

•“tanning feels good”

•Perception of physical attractiveness increases

A tan is the body's natural protection against sunburn

Battle of the Bulbs: Player 1What do the Statistics say?

Commercialism’s “Sun Scare”• Cosmetic Corporations and sunscreen

manufacturers• Beauty magazines• Skin Care Lobbying groups

Not so much an “epidemic”?

Estimated Cancer Death Rates By Site and Year

Year Breast Lung Colon Melanoma

1997 44,190 160,400 46,600 7,300

2006 41,430 162,460 55,170 7,910

Source: American Cancer Society

Study: Motivating Reasons for People to Tan

2004, Wolff System Technology

Among those who presently tan:

•Look healthier- 97%

•Privacy- 95%

•Rested and Relaxed- 92%

•Break from Stress- 91%

•Warmth- 84%

Battle of the Bulbs: Player 2What are the Critics of Indoor Tanning Saying?

Increased Risk of Skin Cancer

•Melanoma Incidences Higher

Tanning Industry Makes Misleading Claims

•“Controlled” tanning prevents Melanoma

•Vitamin D prevents other cancer types

Skin Damage is Inevitable

•Photo aging

•Mottled Pigmentation

•Discoloration and loss of shape

Tanning may be addictive

•“tanorexia”

•Increased numbers of teenage girls

Battle of the Bulbs: Player 2Skin Cancer Statistics

• Increased incidence of basal and squamous cell carcinoma

• I million Americans/year

• 40% of all cancers

• Melanoma

• Non-melanoma deaths

• Increasing diagnoses of melanoma

Battle of the Bulbs: Player 2We flock to tanning beds by the thousands

• $2 Billion Industry

• Increase among adolescent girls

• ¼ teenage girls

• “tanorexia”

Percentage of Teens Aged 14--17 Years Who Used Indoor Tanning Devices During the Preceding 12 Months, by Sex and Age --- United States, 2005*

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Battle of the Bulbs: Player 2Is this Indoor Tanning craze to blame for the rise in Skin Cancer?

• 60,000 deaths worldwide

• Marketing to adolescents

• Premature aging and Skin Cancer

• UVA and photo-aging

• Melanoma Risk Increases

So is it a draw?What kind of risk are you willing to take?

Type

According to Skin Type

I Always burns; never tans; sensitive ("Celtic")

II Burns easily; tans minimally

III Burns moderately; tans gradually to light brown (Average Caucasian)

IV Burns minimally; always tans well to moderately brown (Olive Skin)

V Rarely burns; tans profusely to dark (Brown Skin)

VI Never burns; deeply pigmented, not sensitive (Black Skin)

People with skin types I and II are at greatest risk. Which skin type are you?

You are advised NOT to utilize indoor tanning equipment if:

you are under 16you have fair or sensitive skin that burns easily or tans slowly, poorly or not at allyou have a history of severe sunburn, especially in childhoodyou have a many freckles and/or red hair or very light blonde hairyou have a large number of moles or lesionsyou are taking medications or using creams which may sensitize the skin to sunlight, like Retinol, Retin-A & Renovayou have a medical condition that is worsened by sunlightyour family has skin cancer in their medical history.

CompromiseGet that Golden Glow a Healthier Way

•Self-Tanners

•Bronzing Powders and Lotions

•Tanning Pills

•Tan Accelerators

•Salon Body Spray Systems

If You Decide to Tan..Take Precaution, and Stay Informed

• The professional indoor tanning industry promotes The Golden Rule of Smart Tanning: Don't ever sunburn.

• Make sure the tanning salon has a disinfecting policy.

• Make sure that the salon has you fill out a Skin Type Analysis Form.

• If you're taking medications, be sure to tell the salon staff.

• Get a pair of FDA regulated goggles.

The YOU in UV Tanning beds are far from

being skin-friendly When a person uses a tanning

bed, more layers of the skin are damaged than when a person gets a tan from being in the sun

BUT if you're willing to take the risk with your skin, tanning beds do offer some benefits.

You'll be able to control what kind of ultraviolet light your skin receives, your chances of sunburn are small, and your progress will be monitored.

IT’S UP TO YOU.