Spring Break
As summer approaches, specialists say tanning can be healthy, but warn against excess
Chelsea Brown
Issue date: 5/12/08 Section: News
Summer is fast approaching, and at its heels is a common decision -- To tan or not to tan? Rather than focusing on one extreme or the other, however, people need to make an effort to have a balanced approach to sun exposure and safety, expert say.
Many people agree that having a tan makes you look better and feel better about your appearance. This explains why the tanning industry is so big.
Skin cancer education efforts have seen a surge in recent years. Advertisements for sunscreens, UV-free tanning methods and testimonials from skin cancer survivors and families of those who were not as lucky can be found in almost every magazine.
Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, has increased among women by more than two percent a year for the last 20 years.
Exposure to ultraviolet light is known to be the number-one preventable cause of all skin cancers. But according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, only about 18 percent of women use sunscreen daily.
Cindy Furtado, a phototherapy technician and medical assistant at The Fort Collins Skin Clinic, said doctors in her office are not suggesting people never expose themselves to the sun.
"We're realistic," she said. "We don't expect you to hide from the sun, but just be smart about it, use sunscreen. Sun exposure is always best in safe amounts."
Kiley Clippinger, a student at CSU, tans on recommendation from her doctor. Clippinger has pityriasis rosea, which causes dry, raised, red oval-shaped bumps to appear on her arms, chest, back and stomach because of a vitamin D deficiency.
Ultraviolet light treatment under the supervision of a dermatologist is a common way for patients to deal with pityriasis rosea. Clippinger is also careful to check any moles or marks on her body for changes, and since she is a naturally freckled person, she regularly undergoes full-body skin screenings from her doctor.
Kacey Wojdakowski, a 22-year-old elementary school teacher in Colorado Springs, was diagnosed last July with stage II melanoma. By the time she noticed that the mole on her chest had changed color and had it checked by a doctor, the cancer had spread to the inner layer of her skin.
Many people agree that having a tan makes you look better and feel better about your appearance. This explains why the tanning industry is so big.
Skin cancer education efforts have seen a surge in recent years. Advertisements for sunscreens, UV-free tanning methods and testimonials from skin cancer survivors and families of those who were not as lucky can be found in almost every magazine.
Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, has increased among women by more than two percent a year for the last 20 years.
Exposure to ultraviolet light is known to be the number-one preventable cause of all skin cancers. But according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, only about 18 percent of women use sunscreen daily.
Cindy Furtado, a phototherapy technician and medical assistant at The Fort Collins Skin Clinic, said doctors in her office are not suggesting people never expose themselves to the sun.
"We're realistic," she said. "We don't expect you to hide from the sun, but just be smart about it, use sunscreen. Sun exposure is always best in safe amounts."
Kiley Clippinger, a student at CSU, tans on recommendation from her doctor. Clippinger has pityriasis rosea, which causes dry, raised, red oval-shaped bumps to appear on her arms, chest, back and stomach because of a vitamin D deficiency.
Ultraviolet light treatment under the supervision of a dermatologist is a common way for patients to deal with pityriasis rosea. Clippinger is also careful to check any moles or marks on her body for changes, and since she is a naturally freckled person, she regularly undergoes full-body skin screenings from her doctor.
Kacey Wojdakowski, a 22-year-old elementary school teacher in Colorado Springs, was diagnosed last July with stage II melanoma. By the time she noticed that the mole on her chest had changed color and had it checked by a doctor, the cancer had spread to the inner layer of her skin.
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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