BEAUTYFIX.COM | August 25, 2009

Beautyfix Panelist, Dr. Stuart Kaplan, gave me some insight on why tanning is so bad for your skin:

There is no such thing as a safe tan. People who start tanning when they are young, or get sunburned frequently, have a higher risk of malignant melanoma later in life. In a study published in October 2008, researchers found that one-third of health officials in states with indoor tanning laws said they did not inspect tanning salons, while another third of the states inspected tanning salons less than once a year. Without proper inspections, the tanning booths themselves cannot be physically calibrated to measure the amount of UV radiation the machines emit. Also, the lack of inspections prevents salons having to show parental consents that would be required for minors receiving tans. It is important to understand the effects of UV radiation are cumulative, and the more UV radiation you can avoid now, the more you decrease your risk of getting skin cancer later in life. Plain and simple: Ultraviolet rays either from a tanning bed or the sun are not healthy and will never be. And they are so mid 90’s. Regardless, I love to be sun kissed and have that beautiful glow, but lesson learned, I’ll be faking it and getting it from self tanners and bronzers. Here’s a couple that I’ve tried that do the job wonderfully. Oh and don’t forget your SPF!

Kaplanmd.com