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Everyone looks good with a little color – but, not at the risk of cancer. I used to go tanning quite a bit but for the passed year I haven’t really gone that much. I’m kind of glad. According to an article in the New York Times, the International Agency for Research of Cancer (part of the World Health Organization) has reclassified tanning beds from being “probably carcinogenic” to “carcinogenic.” Last month, they published their research and they have stated that the risk of melanoma increases by 75% for people who start using tanning beds before the age of 30. Defenders of tanning beds still say that a burn inside is just as bad as a burn obtained from a day at the beach and that time spent tanning is all about moderation.
Either way, this begs the question, have fake & bake salons been affected by this newly released report? The general feel is that it hasn’t yet. It is likely though, that UV-less methods of tanning (spray tanning, bronzers, tanning creams, etc.) will benefit from this study. That will be interesting because sales of these types of products started to decline in 2007, then dropped a staggering 20% in 2008, and have continued to decline in the first quarter of 2009.
So, let’s say that people do respond to this study. Do you think that people will now get into spray tans, tanning lotions, etc? Or do you think that in the near future there is a study that will reveal that there are harmful effects for doing that as well?
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Topher
August 13th, 2009 at 10:49 am
DAMN RIGHT PALE IS THE NEW TAN! About time
JOELF
August 13th, 2009 at 11:21 am
I knew either Topher or Adam would post first on this one.
JOELF
August 13th, 2009 at 11:50 am
Studies are already available that show the harmful nature of chemicals found in spray tanning, lotions, and other common cosmetic products.
Paraben is found in almost all lotions and shampoos, and has been linked to breast cancer.
Another class of chemicals called Pthalates, have been shown to block testosterone receptors in the endocrine system. What this has resulted in, in some cases, is still-born males after testosterone reception disruption during fetal development, incomplete development of the male reproductive organs in young males, and even smaller reproductive organs in adult males (there is a field biologist that actually catches and measures the lengths of crocodile penises – So, what do you do for work? :P.)
What a lot of these synthetic organic compounds have in common is that they are hormone disrupting (or endocrine system disrupting). Those at most risk are the developing fetus, infants, and young people, but there is still the risk of breast cancer for adult women, sperm count and motility reduction in adult males, and quite possibly some other cancer-related complications for the adult male in the future.
JOELF
August 13th, 2009 at 11:52 am
Oh! If you’re interested in learning more about this there is a FANTASTIC documentary done for Doc Zone on the CBC called “The Disappearing Male.”
It even includes the crocodile field biologist.