Spring Break
As summer approaches, specialists say tanning can be healthy, but warn against excess
Chelsea Brown
Issue date: 5/12/08 Section: News
"I was lucky enough that it didn't spread into the tissue below the skin or into my lymph nodes," Wojdakowski said.
Once melanoma works its way deep into the skin, the cure rate drops to about 50 percent. If it spreads to the lymph nodes, the cure rate decreases to about 25 percent.
"This was one of the worst experiences of my life, and I'm grateful to be alive and healthy," she said.
Wojdakowski had always been an avid tanner, spending her summers outside in the intense sun of the Colorado mountains and tanning indoors about two times a week during the winter, to maintain her color. She now uses "Mystic Tan," a brand name of airbrush tan offered at most tanning salons, as well as various products from the drugstore such as body lotions that give skin a small dose of color daily.
"I've wanted to tan since my surgery," Wojdakowski said. "I love the sun, and I love being tan, but I've decided that taking care of my skin is more important than how I look. I was just one of many who got skin cancer. People always think, 'It can't happen to me,' but it can, and it did happen to me."
Clippinger and Wojdakowski are each examples of moderated, well balanced approaches to safe UV exposure tailored to their unique situations.
Most tanning salons offer education on using tanning beds in a safe manner. Of course, the safest solution is to use UV-free tanning options, such as spray or airbrush tanning, which is widely available in the Fort Collins area.
For a listing of salons in Fort Collins, visit http://yellowpages.aol.com and search "tanning salons." For recommendations on UV protection from the American Cancer Society, visit www.cancer.org.
Staff writer Chelsea Brown can be reached at news@collegian.com
Once melanoma works its way deep into the skin, the cure rate drops to about 50 percent. If it spreads to the lymph nodes, the cure rate decreases to about 25 percent.
"This was one of the worst experiences of my life, and I'm grateful to be alive and healthy," she said.
Wojdakowski had always been an avid tanner, spending her summers outside in the intense sun of the Colorado mountains and tanning indoors about two times a week during the winter, to maintain her color. She now uses "Mystic Tan," a brand name of airbrush tan offered at most tanning salons, as well as various products from the drugstore such as body lotions that give skin a small dose of color daily.
"I've wanted to tan since my surgery," Wojdakowski said. "I love the sun, and I love being tan, but I've decided that taking care of my skin is more important than how I look. I was just one of many who got skin cancer. People always think, 'It can't happen to me,' but it can, and it did happen to me."
Clippinger and Wojdakowski are each examples of moderated, well balanced approaches to safe UV exposure tailored to their unique situations.
Most tanning salons offer education on using tanning beds in a safe manner. Of course, the safest solution is to use UV-free tanning options, such as spray or airbrush tanning, which is widely available in the Fort Collins area.
For a listing of salons in Fort Collins, visit http://yellowpages.aol.com and search "tanning salons." For recommendations on UV protection from the American Cancer Society, visit www.cancer.org.
Staff writer Chelsea Brown can be reached at news@collegian.com
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Bdygard
Craig Hawley
posted 5/12/08 @ 4:38 PM MST
Forget tanning unless you want to have your face look like an old saddle later in life.
Student
posted 5/20/08 @ 6:59 PM MST
What a crummy doctor recommendation - there are many safer ways to get vitamin D than through sun-exposure.
Milk or supplements for starters.
Craig Hawley
posted 5/20/08 @ 7:38 PM MST
well said student. Sun exposure or tanning is just for vanity not health.
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