THE MYTHS OF INDOOR TANNING

MYTH: INDOOR TANNING IS SAFER THAN SUNTANNING

Some indoor tanning aficionados say that because tanning machines use mostly UVA light, tanning that way is safer than lying in the sun. Not true.  While we used to think UVA light mostly just caused skin aging, we now know that its longer wavelength penetrates the skin more deeply and is strongly linked to melanoma. One study observing 63 women diagnosed with melanoma before age 30 found that 61 of them (97 percent) had used tanning beds. Just one visit to the tanning salon significantly increases your chances of a cancer that can kill you. There’s nothing safe about that.

MYTH: INDOOR TANNING IS A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE, CHEAPER ALTERNATIVE TO PHYSICIAN-SUPERVISED PHOTOTHERAPY

People in the tanning industry may tell patrons that doctors put people in their light boxes because they’re therapeutic for psoriasis and other skin conditions. First of all, it’s important to understand that the machines used in tanning salons are nothing like the light boxes we have today in doctors’ offices. And we are using them far less than we used to because of newer treatments like biologic drugs.

Today, many dermatologists use excimer laser or what’s called narrow-band UVB for psoriasis, and we’re only spot-treating the skin plaques, not necessarily the whole body. The doctor is limiting the dose and protecting and shielding the rest of the body with sunscreen or protective sheets and clothing. If it has to be the whole body, it’s usually because someone is severely inflicted with psoriasis and maybe they can’t be exposed to the biologic drugs, they have a history of TB, they’re immunosuppressed or have other medical issues. We know that using narrow-band UVB for treatment might cause other problems down the road, like skin cancer. It’s a trade-off. And patients sign an informed consent that they understand that.

MYTH 5: TANNING BEDS ARE A GOOD WAY TO IMPROVE YOUR MOOD OR TREAT SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER.

There has been a lot of debate about whether tanning can be a form of addiction, or even what has been dubbed “tanorexia,” in which people who love to tan have a compulsion to keep doing it over and over. Does it stimulate your brain to release “feel good” neurochemicals? Are there receptors in the skin that create this feeling? Is it just the warmth and forced relaxation that feel so good? Or is it that women (and some men, too) just like being tan and getting compliments about how they look? No matter what the mechanism is, I have seen that tanning can be a hard habit to break.

I have heard patients say things like, “My diamond ring looks prettier when my hands are tanned, Doctor Sarnoff.” “My teeth look whiter when my face is tan.” “I look thinner when I’m tan, and you can’t see my cellulite or my varicose veins.” “When I’m tan, boys tell me I look hot, but when I’m not tanning, I don’t get the compliments”.

But you should ask yourself, are those compliments worth getting cancer? Whether tanning is an addiction or a habit, it’s a dangerous one, worth trying to overcome. If you’re not ready to let go of that color, consider self-tanners. If you are, the key is to find other, healthier, ways to boost your mood and feel good about yourself, whether it’s exercise or spending time with pets, friends and loved ones. For seasonal affective disorder, you can try using a “happy light,” which emits visible light you absorb through your eyes rather than harmful UV light on your skin. Also, getting outside in daylight, with sun protection, especially if you can commune with nature, is a proven mood booster.