Posts Tagged ‘skin cancer’
Malignant melanoma can definitely be linked to sunbeds
Despite all the warnings about malignant melanoma, people, especially women, are still sunbathing, whether in the sun or on the tanning beds. Of course, The Sunbed Association would like to insist that tanning beds are safe. After all, if they didn’t, they wouldn’t make any money. They point out that there is no association between UV exposure and malignant melanoma. That is a very ignorant and dangerous statement.
Studies have shown that UV exposure does cause skin damage. And skin damage can lead to many skin disorders, some of which go on to further develop various types of skin cancer. Malignant melanoma is the deadliest, of course. So, you may not have a study linking UV exposure directly to malignant melanoma, the implications are all there. It does not take much intelligence to make the correct deductions. Need we put more women at risk by ignoring the evidence? Need we create more problems all for the sake of the almightly dollar, so to speak?
Studies show that young skin is fragile and vulnerable to damage. Early exposure to UV radiation causes damage which subsequent and persistent exposure adds to. Malignant melanoma is now the third leading cause of death in women in their 30s, behind breast and cervical cancer. Those women with malignant melanoma had a history of sun exposure, especially the use of tanning beds, before the age of 30. Does that not show that there is some cause and effect?
Though tanning beds have been promoted as a safe way to tan, some beds deliver radiation at 10-times the strength of the sun. How can this be considered safe? Burns cause skin damage, so if radiation is too strong, it can cause burns. I have seen many people coming out of tanning salons looking like lobsters. It is most unattractive. Until this tan culture is dissipated, women will be at risk for skin damage in their quest for the ultimate bronze.
In an age where everyone is pushing for equal rights regardless of age, sex, religious or political affiliation, why do we not have people pushing for a return to nature? Can we not accept that ethnically not all of us are brown? Does everyone suddenly wish they had an African or Asian or, perhaps, Latino heritage? I look forward to the day when someone goes around with a T-shirt proudly displaying “Fair-skinned and proud of it” or “Yes, I am Fair”.
Indicator to warn about sunburns
A new technology that could warn sunbathers of the risk of burning would be a welcome advance. Professor Mills at the University of Strathclyde reported on a thin film device, developed by his team, which uses UV rays to drive a chemical reaction that turns colour on an indicator. This device could be worn on the body or on clothes. Once the indicator changes colour, from yellow to pink, the wearer would be warned to get out of the sun. Sun tanning is still very much in vogue despite warnings about skin cancer and other skin diseases. This new device, when available, will help to focus on the dangers of sunburns, as it is closely linked to skin cancer. Unfortunately, it will not prevent burns caused in tanning bed. But that may just be the next step in the development of the indicator device.
