Skin cancer from tanning
One of the greatest fears the medical community has worked to prevent is skin cancer from tanning. For decades, medical experts have put out useful information, warning the general public about the hazards of sunbathing and tanning. If you think you're not vulnerable to getting skin cancer, you may want to think again.
The fastest way to put yourself at risk for skin cancer is to expose your skin to the ultraviolet rays of the sun without any form of protection (sunscreen or sun block). Without these, your skin is at the sun's mercy. The longer you stay out in the sun unprotected, the easier it is for your skin to burn. And the more severe the sunburn, the more likely it is that you can develop skin cancer.
Unfortunately, there are many out there that don't believe they can get a decent tan while using sunscreen. For this reason alone, they take the great risk of tanning underneath the sun. It is this kind of action that leads to the new cases of skin cancer each year. For the baby boomer generation, sun care was never a hot topic of discussion and much wasn't understood about the effects of UV rays on the skin. As a result, many of the people who spent their teen and young adult years sunbathing ended up experiencing signs of premature aging and skin cancer later on in life.
Skin cancer from tanning is a reality that should never be overlooked. The longer you go without protecting your skin, the more you are putting yourself in harm's way. When skin cancer is caught early on, the chances for survival are greater, whereas late diagnoses are often fatal. It is vital to wear sunscreen or sun block each time you plan on going out, especially during peak hours when the sun's rays are at their strongest (10am-2pm). Protective clothing is also required and be sure to check your skin periodically for new moles or irregularities. The appearance of a new mole or other mark may be an early symptom of melanoma, known as the most dangerous form of skin cancer. If in doubt, make an appointment with your doctor or dermatologist right away. It's always better to be safe than sorry.
