Studies conducted by JAMA Dermatology show that 59 percent of college students
use tanning beds.This comes after observing the massive increase of skin cancer rates over the past 30 years, and research shows the undeniable connection between high rates of skin cancer and the mass-use of tanning beds.
Each year in the United States, approximately five million people are treated for skin cancer. JAMA also found that more than 400,000 of these cases are linked to indoor tanning, specifically caused by the harsh UV rays emitted by lights in tanning beds.
The use of tanning beds dramatically increases the chance of developing melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer that kills nearly 10,000 people in the United States each year.
Research conducted by the International Prevalence of Indoor Tanning shows that indoor tanning is responsible for close to 7,000 cases of melanoma
annually.In fact, just one tanning bed session increases users’ chances for developing melanoma by 25 percent.
Some countries around the world have already taken action against the danger presented by indoor tanning. Both Brazil and Australia have already outlawed tanning beds.
According to the Melanoma Awareness and Education Association, in 2003, as a result of the World Health Organization classifying tanning beds as a Level 1 Carcinogen, Brazil became the first country in the world to ban tanning beds. Just recently, in January 2015, the Cancer Council Australia released a statement banning the use of tanning beds.
In addition to melanoma, the risk of developing other forms of skin cancer such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma also drastically increases with the use of tanning beds.
The numbers are staggering.
In 2014 alone, tanning beds were responsible for 245,000 cases of basal cell cancer in the United States alone. In that same year, tanning beds caused nearly 170,000 cases of squamous cell cancer.
One session in a tanning bed increases the risk for developing basal cell carcinoma by 29 percent.
One session in a tanning bed increases the risk for developing squamous cell carcinoma by 67 percent.
In 2016, an estimated 10,130 people will die from melanoma, and people who first use a tanning bed before the age of 35 increase their chances of getting melanoma by 75 percent.
So why are college students everywhere still flocking to tanning salons everywhere?
According to a study conducted by Emory University, women believe tan skin makes them more attractive. In fact, a poll released by Emory shows that women with tanner skin were twice as likely to be rated as more attractive than women with paler skin.
A separate study from the American Academy of Dermatology said that 72% of people think that being tan makes them more attractive.
Ultimately, there's one question that needs to be answered:
Do the benefits outweigh the risks?
What do you think?
