WHO on Tanning Beds and Cancer - Essay Example

Tanning Beds and Its Benefits There are numerous reasons that explain individuals bothering with the tanning beds. Part of which is the privacy. There is no assembling around in a bathing suit whereas the skin is still pale as a result of the cold winters that are long. The long extremely cold winter provide an added benefit of utilizing tanning beds as they last all through the year despite the weather. As most individuals seem to be better with a little coloring on the cheeks, tanning beds are a fantastic advantage. Unlike the direct sunlight, majority of the tanning beds presently encompass a controlled, prescribed amount of ultraviolet rays and the measure given is spread out over numerous tanning bed meetings. The tanning beds again are accessible as their popularity also enabled the growth of salons. Tanning bed salons are found in almost every area. The tanning service done indoors allows for a cosmetic tan in moderation and control of the skin form and a regulator that minimizes the danger of overexposure and sunburn. The affirmative psychological benefits of tanning can also be as a result of other factors saves for endorphins. The advantage alleged by the tanning industry with regards to the tanning indoors different from the outside tanning is the quantity of control the tanner bears. An often alleged advantage of non natural tanning is the increased production of Vitamin D. The utilization of Vitamin D offers a supplementary reliable, fair and clearly protected way to acquiring the desired Vitamin D (www.time.com, 1) Indoor tanning beds may perhaps or might not be valuable for the treatment of SAD. It is plausible that the advantage that numerous SAD patients experience is more as a result of tanning leaving a sense of good feeling in general, instead of treating the SAD itself because the tanning beds do not generate wavelength of light required for an efficient treatment of SAD. WHO on Tanning Beds and Cancer This article tackles the effects of tannin g bed as researched by The World Health Organization’s Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The article reports that tanning beds have hard harmful effects on populations as well cause cancer. WHO has declared tanning bed usage, a vital cancer danger. It reports that the organization ranked UV tanning beds to its highest cancer risk grouping, “carcinogenic to individuals." According to the article, the faction had previously categorized sun lamp and tanning bed application as potential “carcinogenic to humans.” It offers information connecting the indoor tanning to the lethal skin cancer melanoma which is ample and undeniable. A remarkable increase in melanoma, mostly among the youthful women, has been observed in recent years. Studies done imply that the past decade offers enough evidence to ascertain that, tanning bed use, has had a significant role, jointly with exposure to direct sun. A tan which excites many people who view it a sign of health are unaware of its dangers to the skin (Boyles, 1). The IARC faction met and reviewed the research on tanning beds as well as part played by ultraviolet light contact in skin cancer. They concluded that ultraviolet A (UVA), B (UVB) and ultraviolet C (UVC) radiations, all contribute in causing cancer, in animal forms. This is critical because as it contradicts the claims of the indoor tanning industry, which advocated that tanning beds were secure since the bulbs possessed more UVA radiation as compared to UVB. It is reported in the article that melanoma cases in the US have doubled between the periods of mid 1990s to 2004. The research argued that this rapid rise could not be elaborated by screening and prior detection of cancer. It was also reported that tanning before one reaches 30 years linked with an astounding 75% rise in melanoma hazard. It was also discovered that according to the article that young women suffering from cancer between 1973 and 2004 indicated tripling cases on melanoma (Boyles, 1). Reasons against tanning beds and their harm Although medical proof proposing that exposure to ultraviolet rays can result in cancer of the skin which is incontrovertible, tanning beds are large commercial entities that rake in huge earnings. Several dermatological groupings have come out in disagreement of the tanning beds and consequently do not encourage or sanction their utilization. In actual fact, the melanin produced by the skin is damaged by the UV rays. A massive quantity of medical research studies carried out in clinics has happened on the effects of exposure of the sunlight rays on the human skin. The findings all overwhelmingly demonstrate that rays of ultra violet are the reasons of all the three forms of cancer of the skin namely the melanoma, basil cell sarcoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. The rays of the ultra violet straightforwardly damage the DNA consequently resulting in mutations. The activated oxygen molecules that are produced also harm the DNA along with the other cellular arrangements. The exposure to the ultraviolet rays also results in the immune repressions, successfully deactivating the natural anti cancer protections of the body. Cancer of the skin does not emerge as the only health consequence of the tanning beds, as well as, exposure to the ultra violet rays. The skin can also become wrinkled, leathery and thick as a result of contact to the sunlight rays in a consistent or prolonged period. The tanning beds and exposure to the sun propel the aging of individuals even though nobody desires for that form of aging. The other tanning beds effect could be damaging to the eye. As revealed by studies carried out, increased exposure to the rays of ultraviolet increases the chances of acquiring some form of cataracts. Even though, cataracts can be eliminated, they are serious conditions. Children and teenagers who employ the use of tanning beds are a greater threat of biological helplessness to the radiations of the ultra violet. The exposure to non natural tanning as demonstrated by studies carried out by the epidemiologists; reveal that tanning increases the danger of spiteful melanoma (Heckman and Manne, p135). In addition, the more an individual is exposed to the ultra violet rays, the more the danger, more so for the human beings exposed prior to the age of 30, and those who have been sunburned. The rate of melanoma is rapid in females with an age group of between 15-29 years compared to the male counterparts. The spot check analysis in colleges reveals that the students are indeed aware of the dangers of tanning beds. However, that does not prevent the young generation tanning beds. The adolescents are often targeted by coupons, as well as, the other media channel outlets and going as far as putting up advertisement in the high school newspaper. It is not easy for an adolescent to relinquish the use of tanning techniques. The desire by the teenagers to appear or look awesome does not inhibit the teenagers to keep away from the tanning beds services (Fredericks, p221). The adolescents face a serious threat of suffering negative consequences from the tanning beds services at their tender ages. There is a revelation by various studies that indoor tanning appears to be harmful compared to the sun tanning. The popularity presently of tanning beds has gone far and beyond. For wish by individuals to glow, status of health is sacrificed to negative effects. It would be safer sitting and basking in the sun for some couple of hours instead of tanning the skin (Heckman and Manne, p133). UV rays also have detrimental effects to the eyes. They can result to the eye cancer. The eye cancer is at other occasions referred to as ocular melanoma. It is a probable consequence of extreme UV exposure. Some conditions that can grow from the use of tanning beds can be healed. Conditions such as Photokeratitis and photoconjunctivitis, inflammation of the cornea and conjuctive all are caused by UV, and they can be cured. Conversely, chronic eye conditions may as well result. These problems involve cataracts, which is an eye disease that leads to impaired vision and pterygium, which is flesh-like growth on the facade of the eye. It is a white tissue growth affecting the white part of the eye, and macular degeneration, which destroys the retina. On severe cases, tumors can grow on the eye surface. Investigations on tanning beds reveal that continuing exposure to UVA rays can cause the ruin of the retina and cornea, resulting to cataracts, ocular melanoma and blindness (Fredericks, p218). These effects are consequential enough, to discourage the young people from risking their lives to extreme sunlight, which not only causes them health problems, but hazardous diseases, which are difficult to cure. Eye injuries such as eye arc, cornea flash burns and keratitis all are generated because of extreme exposure to radiations. While eye cataracts can be treated sand removed surgically, problems such as pterygium cannot be cured (Heckman and Manne, p132). Therefore, it advisable for people to wear protective eye gears when tanning to avoid the outcomes of eye cancers. Tanning in beds are also significant in causing aging. They lead to premature aging among people. They cause photo-aging, which is premature aging of the skin resulting from exposure to extreme UV radiation. This causes the skin classically to develop a texture comparable to leather and wrinkles. It causes sagging skin and sun spots growth, which arise due to the deeper layers of skin being exceedingly affected by the scorching UV rays. In their quest to attain cosmetic beauty people more young women overlook the effects of extreme sun rays to their skin. This lead to them over exposing their skin to extreme UV rays, which dangerously affect the skin. The UV rays affect the skin deeply. The underlying skin layers are affected heavily by the sun rays and causing the layers to respond resulting to ageing conditions on the body (Fredericks, p216). Tanning tables should be discouraged since they encourage the members of the population to alter their natural appearance. However, it is the liberty of a person to decide what they want to do with their bodies; it should not involve putting the health of a person in peril in order to achieve aesthetic satisfaction. It is irresponsible for individuals to endanger their lives in order to obtain a tan. Tanning tables should also be banned since there are no measures or policies in place to regulate the use of this device. This will put the lives of the users in danger since they will be susceptible to the dangers, which tanning table posses. The policy makers should involve experts to facilitate the creation of an appropriate policy that will ensure the safe use of these devices. Until this is done, tanning tables should be banned from use. Tanning tables should also be banned until the public is adequately educated on the adverse effects of using this device. This is because the public will put their lives at risk oblivious of the dangers involved in using this method. It is critical for the public to be conversant with the positives and demerits of using this device. This will allow the public to make informed choices when they are sentient of the outcomes of using the tanning table (Heckman and Manne, p132). It is also essential that this device is banned since there are no measures in place to train the public on how best to use the tanning table. This is crucial since the wrong usage of the table can lead to adverse effects to the life of the individual using this device. It should be ensured that before the public is allowed to own such machines, that they are conversant with the procedures that are involve in operating the machines and also how frequent one can tan themselves this will ensure that the safety of individuals that plan to use this device has the expertise needed. The sun is a natural source of tanning. The sun is a safer way of tanning, since the rays are not concentrated hence is less likely to affect the person tanning. Tanning tables, however, the man made UV rays are concentrated on the skin of the individual in order to achieve faster results. This exposes the user to numerous risks that could have been evaded with the employment of the natural source available for tanning. The society should be encouraged to use the natural resource, which is safe and free, rather risk their wellbeing with the use of tanning tables (Fredericks, p216). The availability of tanning beds has encouraged people as young as teenagers to take part in the action. This leads to the exposure of young people to the health risks associated with tanning. This is especially crucial, since the young individuals are easily inclined to participate in the tanning process without considering the risks (Fredericks, p216). This includes exposing the young generation to cancer. This will have adverse affects on the society since it will have a significant impact on life expectancy of persons in the society. This will effect in the community dying at an early age and, therefore, affecting the productivity and population of a region. Conclusion People should be aware of the tanning industry advertising ways which hide the truth from them. They advocate for tanning beauty, which is something most people desire, especially the youth. This lead to people, who are concerned about their appearances, to engage tanning, as a means of acquiring beauty, since they desire to be considered beautiful, by others and have a pleasing skin texture. Therefore, in recent periods, a trend has emerged where a person with a tan skin, is considered to be a stereotypical good-looking individual, putting pressure on young people mostly teenagers, to strive to turn into what the media deems, as a gorgeous person. This causes the teenagers to apply tanning equipments while disregarding medical cautions. However, while tanning may improve one’s appearance temporarily, it will have destructive effectives in the long run to health thus it should be avoided for lasting benefits.     Works Cited Boyles, Salynn. WHO: Tanning Beds cause cancer. Indoor tanning causes Melanoma, report shows. WebMD. Better information. Better health. Accessed at, < http://www.webmd.com/healthy-beauty/news/20090728/who-tanning-beds-cause-cancer> Fredericks, Carrie. Skin Cancer. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2010. Print. Heckman, Carolyn J, and Sharon L. Manne. Shedding Light on Indoor Tanning. Dordrecht [etc.: Springer, 2011. Print. Tanning Beds: Assessing the Risks - TIME." Breaking News, Analysis, Politics, Blogs, News Photos, Video, Tech Reviews - TIME.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2012. . Read More