Diabetes and Tanning
If you are undergoing treatment for lupus or
diabetes or are susceptible to cold sores, be aware that these
conditions can be aggravated through exposure to ultraviolet radiation
from tanning devices, sunlamps, or natural sunlight. In addition, your
skin may be more sensitive to artificial light or sunlight if you use
certain medications, for example, antihistamines, tranquilizers or birth
control pills. Your tanning salon may keep a file with information on
your medical history, medications, and treatments. Make sure you update
it as necessary.
Protecting Yourself
Limit your exposure to
avoid sunburn. If you tan with a device, ask whether the manufacturer or
the salon staff recommend exposure limits for your skin type. Set a
timer on the tanning device that automatically shuts off the lights or
somehow signals that you’ve reached your exposure time. Remember that
exposure time affects burning and that your age at the time of exposure
is important relative to burning.
Knowing your Tanning Lotion
Some
suntanning products don't contain sunscreen. It only takes a few bad
sunburns to raise the risk of skin cancer, and skin damage builds up
over years even when no burning occurs. This is why sunscreen, which
blocks UVA and UVB, is recommended. The FDA has expressed concern about
suntanning products without sunscreen, and encourages consumers to check
the labels for SPF protection.
Sunscreen is regulated by the FDA as an OTC drug. Look for products with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more. The higher the number, the better the protection. Sunscreen should be liberally applied to skin 30 minutes before going out in the sun, and then every two hours after that.
Tanning Salons
It's
true that most sun lamps emit mainly UVA radiation, and that these
socalled "tanning rays" are less likely to cause a sunburn than UVB
radiation from sunlight. But, contrary to the claims of some tanning
parlors, that doesn't make them safe. UVA rays have a suspected link to
malignant melanoma, and, like UVB rays, they also may be linked to
immune system damage.
Tanning Safely
We urge you to find out
more about self tanning. You can self tan with a Sunless tanning lotion.
Sunless tanning lotion is a tanning lotion that gives you that great
tan without the dangers of UVA and UVB! Find out more about Self
Tanning!
