With more tanning salons in the state of Florida than McDonald's, CVS stores, or Bank of America branches, indoor tanning has become a serious problem everywhere (Tavernise A16). A tan is the skin’s response to UV light damage but still, many long for golden skin (“That Not So Healthy Glow”). Tanning is not an issue secluded to adults. Every year, 1.6 million American minors tan in tanning beds and of those who tan, more than half of them have tanned over ten times in that year (Tavernise A16). Even though there are large health risks, only 40 states have restrictions and only 11 of those states have full under-18 bans (Tavernise A16). Minors should be banned from using tanning beds because it can lead to skin cancer, it can cause damage to
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The most common form of cancer for 19 to 25-year-olds is melanoma, a form of skin cancer (Clark). There are three kinds of melanoma. Malignant melanoma begins as just a mole that becomes cancerous (Leonard 20). It is the most serious form of skin cancer and can affect all skin types (Leonard 20). Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer (Leonard 20). It looks like a shiny bump and is highly treatable because it is only present on the top layer of the skin (Leonard 20). Squamous cell carcinoma appears on or near the face (Leonard 20). This isn’t a very common form of skin cancer but is treatable (Leonard 20). At the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, the world leader in adult and pediatric cancer treatment and research, there are 10- 20 new cases of melanoma each week (Salsberg). This number sounds small compared to the 65,000 new cases each week nationwide …show more content…
A lot of teens find a tan to be a “healthy glow” but, in reality, this is the body's response to injury (“That Not So Healthy Glow”). Another myth is that a “base tan” will make the skin less likely to get damaged in the future. The truth is, there is absolutely no evidence backing this claim up (Leonard 20). People are told that a tan will make them look better, make their teeth look whiter, and make their acne go away but is this really worth risking the health of the skin? (“That Not So Healthy Glow”). Brittany Cicala, a girl who was diagnosed with skin cancer after tanning as a teenager, said, “I called myself a 'tanorexic', because I would look into the mirror and never see myself as dark as other people would see me, much as an anorexic would never see themselves as thin as other people would see them” (“That Not So Healthy Glow”). Indoor tanning is a serious issue; not just for the health of the skin but, also, the person's mental
The most common form of cancer for 19 to 25-year-olds is melanoma, a form of skin cancer (Clark). There are three kinds of melanoma. Malignant melanoma begins as just a mole that becomes cancerous (Leonard 20). It is the most serious form of skin cancer and can affect all skin types (Leonard 20). Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer (Leonard 20). It looks like a shiny bump and is highly treatable because it is only present on the top layer of the skin (Leonard 20). Squamous cell carcinoma appears on or near the face (Leonard 20). This isn’t a very common form of skin cancer but is treatable (Leonard 20). At the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, the world leader in adult and pediatric cancer treatment and research, there are 10- 20 new cases of melanoma each week (Salsberg). This number sounds small compared to the 65,000 new cases each week nationwide …show more content…
A lot of teens find a tan to be a “healthy glow” but, in reality, this is the body's response to injury (“That Not So Healthy Glow”). Another myth is that a “base tan” will make the skin less likely to get damaged in the future. The truth is, there is absolutely no evidence backing this claim up (Leonard 20). People are told that a tan will make them look better, make their teeth look whiter, and make their acne go away but is this really worth risking the health of the skin? (“That Not So Healthy Glow”). Brittany Cicala, a girl who was diagnosed with skin cancer after tanning as a teenager, said, “I called myself a 'tanorexic', because I would look into the mirror and never see myself as dark as other people would see me, much as an anorexic would never see themselves as thin as other people would see them” (“That Not So Healthy Glow”). Indoor tanning is a serious issue; not just for the health of the skin but, also, the person's mental