Tanning Booth Mom Arrested- The all bad effects of indoor tanning devices
Hi guys!
Did you know that May is Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month? On that note I want to talk about one of the leading skin cancer causing trend that has recently emerged.
This post is all about tanning booths. A friend of mine posted an article on my wall about a woman who got arrested in New Jersey for taking her six year old daughter with her into a tanning booth. This immediately got my attention (some people really shouldn't have kids) and I decided to look a bit further into tanning booths and what they actually do to your skin. First off, here's a newscast from ABC news with the details from the tanning booth mom arrest.
I found an article titled Adverse Effects of Ultraviolet Radiation from the Use of Indoor Tanning Equipment: Time to Ban the Tan where it is concluded that the use of indoor tanning devices can be associated with an increased risk of skin cancer. The article notes that many studies have shown that almost all kinds of extended UV exposure can lead to DNA damage, whether a burn is seen or not. The authors conclude that indoor tanning should be regulated at a federal level in order to prevent the increased heath risk that indoor tanning entails. A complete ban for minors is also advised. The Food and Drug administration is reviewing the classification of indoor tanning devices and hopefully a classification of their class can be identified soon. The regulation and prevention of indoor tanning devices can protect the public from preventable cancers and other effects caused from the prolonged exposure to UV radiation.
FDA Device Rankings
The FDA has a three level classification system for medical devices. Class I devices present minimal harm and do not require too much regulation. Control, safety, and effectiveness are the main controls. Examples of Class I devices are bedpans and bandages. Class II devices are those that require special control and manufacturer care. They have specific performance standards, surveillance, registries, and special labeling requirements. Examples include x-ray machines, UV lamps for dermatological use, and laser surgical equipment. Class III devices require additional information to ensure safety. Examples include heart valves and cerebral stimulators.
Tanning beds are currently classified as a Class I device. Very little regulation is carried out for these devices which has led to haphazard use, use by minors, and a lack of information for technicians.
Effects of UV Radiation
UV radiation causes damage to DNA within your skin cells. This DNA damage is what provides the "crispy" tan that so many people strive for. The p53 protein is responsible for releasing melanocyte stimulating hormones when it senses any DNA damage to the skin through UV exposure. This production of melanocytes is what gives skin the "darker" pigment. Tanning is a form of stress response from the skin, and the DNA damage intermediate for tanning, is the same intermediate that can lead to cancer cells.
Figure 1- Effects of UV Radiation: An Overview
Risk of Tanning Beds
The problem with tanning booths and other devices is that they have UV levels that exceed even the strongest amount of sunlight. A study found the mean level of radiation from a booth to be 4 times as much and as strong as the noon sunlight, commonly seen as the strongest radiation time of the day. Furthermore, tanning booths are not designed with treatment in mind, therefore regulation is extremely low. Supervision is basically non-existant and the technical risks are not known by the supervisors. The variable amount if UVA and UVB radiation is probably one of the biggest risk factors associated with these devices.
Melanoma and Indoor Tanning
There are an increasing number of studies that link melanoma with the use of tanning beds. The International Agency for Research on Cancer conducted a study that found that melanoma risk increases significantly if tanning devices are used before the age of 35. Another British study showed that there is an increase in melanoma cases in young women. About 25% of cases of English young women with melanoma can be attributed to indoor tanning.
Conclusions
Clearly, the message is simple. DO NOT USE TANNING BEDS! Every day there is increasing evidence that UV radiation from the use of tanning booths and other devices can cause DNA damage. This DNA damage can lead to golden brown skin, but it also leads to the same intermediate that causes melanoma and other skin cancers. Some other bad symptoms include burns that can reach up to third degree, wrinkles, premature aging, corneal burns, cataracts, ocular melanoma, and photodermatoses. It can also be an addictive action that can lead to psychological problems. This new trend can lead to expensive and deathly repercussions. I agree with the idea of changing the tanning beds to a Class II device and educating people about what they are doing to their bodies. I really liked this article because it opened my eyes to exactly what is going on when I get a sunburn. It turn out that getting more "golden" is not necessarily a good think and it can, in the long run, have horrible consequences.
References
Henry W. Lim, William D. James, Darrell S. Rigel, Mary E. Maloney, James M. Spencer, Reva Bhushan. Adverse effects of ultraviolet radiation from the use of indoor tanning equipment: Time to ban the tan. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Volume 64, Issue 4, April 2011, Pages e51-e60
