While preparing dinner last night with the tv on in the background, I heard a news clip about safe ways to tan. To my surprise, they listed tanning beds and whole body sprays as safe tanning methods. No, no, No! I wanted to pick up the phone and set them straight. Tanning beds are not safe. That's a fact! Yes, salons will tell you they are. They will tell you that tanning beds are roughly 95 percent UVA rays and only 3 to 5 percent UVB rays and that UVB rays are the dangerous rays. Truth is ... both UVA and UVB rays cause skin damage. UVA rays take longer to damage the skin, but they penetrate deeper into the skin where the cells are that produce our tan. When these deeper cells are damaged, melanoma can develop. As for whole body sprays, these sprays are full of chemicals which not only should not be on your skin, but you also run the risk of absorbing these chemicals through your mouth, nose, and eyes. I'm surprised the news clip didn't even mention tanning pills ... which should be avoided completely. The safest route is sunless tanning products. But are they even safe? Many contain high doses of parabens, phthalates, fragrances, and artificial colors. There are some available though which are made from more natural products which will lessen any risks. One to try: MyChelle del Sol, a sunless tanner with organic essential oils and aloe.
For a great read on the dangers of indoor tanning, read this article provided by the Skin Cancer Foundation. And while in the sun, be sure to use sunscreens containing Mexoryl, which I wrote about in a previous post.
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