Abstract
The analysis of literature review of this research was on the effects of tanning beds to the skin, a topic that is getting news rating because it bans the use of tanning beds in younger populations according to the current Louisiana’s new legislation. This study is predestined to review the augment that artificial tanning, as a comparative background of the skin has impacts.
According to Demko, et. al., 2003, the risks of skin cancer claims, have been brought on board, concerning tanning beds being behind the increased cancer risk, though, through the research conducted, there is support and opposition of the claims. Hence, through this argument, there gets to be an exploration of the research from both points of view.
Introduction
The use of artificial UV radiation, better identified as tanning beds, has for long been questioned by experts, through the sun beds predominantly emitting UVA radiation considered to be having the damaging spectrum of UV radiation of late (Karagas, et. al., 2002). Extensively, of late, there has been also the manufacture of sun beds, which produce higher UVB levels mimicking the solar spectrum and speeding the process of tanning, according to Karagas, et. al., 2002. According to Levine, et. al., 2005, overexposure to UV radiation from the sun and other sources that are considered to be artificial has been a public health concern.
In skin cancer, cataracts, complex eye conditions and concealed immune system development, UV radiation plays’ a significant role, further, to the increased UV radiation being noted to be resulting in premature ageing of the skin (Levine, et. al., 2005).
Generally, it is found that most individuals get concerned about their appearance, with the assumption of the people’s desire by others to be considered beautiful, and with more pleasing features according to Demko, et. al., 2003. In an example case of Demko, et. al., 2003, a thin female, she gets considered to be a stereotypical good looking person or a male who is muscularly built with clean hair and tan skin. Currently, tremendous pressure amount placed upon females, more so teenagers, to become models impacts on this topic, giving explanations as to why more female teens, of white complexion origin, tend to more often use tanning equipments, ignoring medical caution (Demko, et. al., 2003).
Literature Review
The use of artificial tanning according to Rhainds, et. al., 1999, brings about UV radiations emission. Recently, a person such as the “Tanning Mom” has received critics for tanning beds over-use, through news, in which lately, it was discovered that she consented to artificial tanning use of her daughter, who is five years old, hence leading to a survey around the country (Rhainds, et. al., 1999). As a result, this has seen the current Louisiana’s Representative, Helena Moreno, who is a Democrat from New Orleans, to lobby for a bill to pass, meant to ban younger populations from the usage of tanning beds.
At present in Louisiana, the law states that there should be the use tanning beds but only with written consent from a legal guardian for adolescents between the age of 14 and 18 (Levine, et. al., 2005). Helena is trying to annul this right, in spite of parental consent. When the government steps in many times, to limit private individual freedom, research gets conducted, meant either to oppose or support the claimed basis. In the targeted 14-21 years age group, questions have for long been raised as to whether tanning beds accelerate skin cancers, and if scientific research supports the accusation of tanning beds causing skin cancer at all, empowering the public position has to be taken by some people, with the application of education on the topic and further, allowing a person to maintain the right to decide independently.
This position is risky, with studies showing that individuals, who are aware of the risks of artificial UV tanning, tend to ignore the caution and continue to indulge in the use of tanning beds (Demko, et. al., 2003). Through this review of literature, there is the addressing of the claims that were previously stated, and the precipitating warning research that tends to be against tanning bed usage.
Background
Tanning beds, therefore, are found to be having the control exposure time power, and the UVA-UVB rays’ ratio for achieving the "perfect balance", because, they tend to filter out much of burning UVB rays (Rhainds, et. al., 1999). Therefore, chances of getting burned get to dramatically be on a decrease, with the claim from companies that tanning beds cannot be harmful anymore as compared to the sun. In tanning salons according to Rhainds, et. al., 1999, some UV radiations have been stated to be needed towards vitamin D manufacture, so as to certify the constant calcium remains level in the blood, thereby controlling its absorption.
In tanning industries, there have been claims that UVA radiation has no detrimental effects on the skin, with the other hand of arguments claiming that UVB radiation has the potential to harm the outermost skin layer, with the reason, that it can penetrate deep into the skin according to Knight, et. al., 2002. These UVA rays through tanning beds have no ability to cause any premature aging, burn or even cause skin thickening, thereby revealing it as a fibrous appearance type a fact supported by Knight, et. al., 2002.
In fact, reports reveal that the avoidance of the sun increases the risks for contracting cancers, which include skin cancer, with most studies showing that unexposed individuals’ regularly have a greater acquiring chance of some cancer forms (Rhainds, et. al., 1999). According to Rhainds, et. al., 1999, studies conducted on the malignant melanoma, show that, the skin cancer form considered to be deadly, is more common in individuals’ who do not get exposure to sunlight with less development in regions that are not exposed to the sun usually.
Rather than just the skin, to some, exposure to the sun abates the development of colon, breast, ovarian and even prostate cancers, with studies showing that repeated sunburn and genetics, not only tanning beds, are prominent factors behind skin cancer development amongst the most population, considered as being vulnerable, according to Knight, et. al., 2002.
Problem Statement
Intensive studies, with repetitive monitoring of artificial tanning have been noted to be impacting on the skin, through the evidence concerning the emission of UV radiations, which cause skin complications according to Gasparro, 2000. This paper therefore, will bridge the gap between artificial tanning and the skin, through identification of the potential effects.
Study Aim
The study aims to bring on board the facts to understand what occurs to the skin, when it is tanned with the long-term effects, considered harmful, making it clear that UVB rays get to be responsible for a skin burning. To briefly explain about this, the rays pop the capillaries beneath the skin surface (Knight, et. al., 2002). With Long wavelength, the UVA rays tend to have a totally different skin result, according to Knight, et. al., 2002. According to Knight, et. al., 2002, this is due to the UVA ray penetration into the skin, which makes melanin granules to get oxidized and, as a result, tan to golden brown. Conversely, melanin granules require stimulation by UVB rays to rise to the skin surface with small amounts of melanin pigment.
Effects of artificial tanning
Chronologically
In the chronological study of the effects of artificial tanning, most researched articles conclude that, tanning gets to be directly connected to skin cancer, particularly malignant melanoma, alongside a number of health related problems according to Gasparro, 2000. Even though tanning industries assert that UVA radiation gets to be safe, research in the medical field disproves this assumption (Gasparro, 2000).
Research finds out that, UVA rays tend to penetrate into the skin and deep, hence destroying skin fibers, causing elasticity damages (Matsumura & Ananthaswamy, 2004). A support to this, finds continuing UVA rays effects that bring about wrinkles and premature aging according to Knight, et. al., 2002. Scientists further agree that there is a less likelihood of UVA rays to cause burns; however, still connected to the immune system damage, and malignant melanoma, the inner skin tissues weaken and causing other skin cancer types (Gasparro, 2000).
According to Gasparro, 2000, studies further show that, large UVA doses, lead to amplified risk of skin cancer development, with the conclusion that, UVA radiations lead to similar damages as those of UVB radiation. The reason behind this is that, skin cells get affected, leading to cancer and extensively, in cases where there is increased light exposure, the likelihood was that the damage would surpass the constructive, mechanisms for cellular repair, and could easily lead to tumor development (Gasparro, 2000).
Thematically
As a looming theme in the field of healthcare, the number of studies conducted, further, proves tanning beds to be major factors in the malignant melanoma development (Karagas, et. al., 2002). The use of tanning beds by different people, under the age of 30 years old, in the study, concluded that the individuals, who used more than 10 times the tanning beds per year, got the likelihood to developing seven times more, malignant melanoma, as opposed to those who often did not utilize tanning beds (Karagas, et. al., 2002).
Another sect of researchers, however, supposed that as long as tanning devices were not excessively used with avoidance of burns, then the safety of the equipment could be guaranteed to some level according to Armstrong & Kricker, 2001. However, with all this assumption, it is strongly proven according to Armstrong & Kricker, 2001 that tanning beds are dangerous and cause sunburns, with reports that, single sunburn doubles the skin of cancer risk development.
Methodologically
In a methodological extraction of facts, artificial tanning is also identified to be skin damaging. The association of skin cancer with sunburns and UVB radiation has been linked by scientists (Armstrong & Kricker, 2001). Tanning in temperance, tends to produce similar harmful effects, as a burn according to Armstrong & Kricker, 2001. Therefore, tanning causes premature skin aging, with a wrinkled and leathery appearance; this extensively causes damage to the immune system. In the study of tanning, I can deduct a fact that, “no tan is safe.” Through a number of authorities, there are warnings on the potential risks of tanning devices to the public. Dermatologists tend to believe that, a leading skin cancer cases factor, are the tanning beds.
Concerns as to why individuals do not get worried with this looming trend of skin infection, have arisen in the past, with the findings that, the public, perhaps, is not aware fully of the effects, that are considered harmful, that result from UV radiation (Armstrong & Kricker, 2001). Also through Armstrong & Kricker, 2001, it was found that, most of the patients suffering from skin cancer are of the age of 50 and above.
Although according to Armstrong & Kricker, 2001, it is evident that lately, more victims are teenagers who get to use almost daily the tanning bed equipments, concerns and relationships link skin cancers and artificial tanning equipments, prove tanning beds as being carcinogenic, with further combined sunlight exposure and tanning beds, leading to increased melanoma risk development.
Reasons for lack of adherence to warnings
According to Gasparro, 2000, through studies surveying groupings in major metropolitan areas, there are revelation of a number of reasons for people’s reluctance in taking into consideration the warnings given, over the artificial tanning equipments use. The ignorance in students according to Gasparro, 2000 puts the feeling in them that, they are not in the high risk category for skin cancer development therefore; this makes them not to consider the harmful effect of tanning beds. Further, according to Gasparro, 2000, the consideration of the lack of physical vision of the effect at its initial line brings about the ignorance, eventually, concluding to the surveyors that, skin cancers development risk factors, are behavioral, environmental, and genetic.
A study on sun behaviors according to Matsumura & Ananthaswamy, 2004, gives reason for low adherence to melanoma acquiring risks, with the conclusion that good base tan obtaining, would lessen the chances of melanoma development. These revelations, get the public being unacquainted of the risky and potentially fatal UV radiation effects, that cause skin damage, predominantly when handling tanning beds (Matsumura & Ananthaswamy, 2004).
Lack of public empowerment through health experts, continues to put this fact on hold according to Armstrong & Kricker, 2001. The understanding of this situation, as being risky is needed with further, studies showing that individuals are aware of the artificial UV tanning risks, with no supporting facts, makes them ignore the caution and continue to indulge in the tanning beds use (Matsumura & Ananthaswamy, 2004). This places majority of populations at risk, hence, promoting cancer cases increase (Armstrong & Kricker, 2001).
Conclusion
It is evident that, the artificial equipment for tanning emits some UVA and UVB radiation, a fact that is predominantly in agreement with Medical researchers (Matsumura & Ananthaswamy, 2004). The radiations cause sun burns that tend to increase the chances of one developing skin cancer, further, including malignant melanoma according to Gasparro, 2000. Therefore, it can be said that tanning beds have the potential to cause skin cancers. It is further in agreement with the Scientists that educating people is the best modification method of shedding light on the potential harm of sun behaviors to eradicate the risk perceptions, and the risks of melanoma acquisition (Gasparro, 2000).
There is a need to understand that, both UV radiations have the ability to cause blood vessel damage, photosensitivity reactions, with no limitation to eye damage, with the understanding that, tanning beds contribute to eye problems such as corneal infections and conjunctivitis (Armstrong & Kricker, 2001). However, according to Armstrong & Kricker, 2001, an emphasis to the skin is needed, advocating for little exposure to these rays.
In summary, there is a significant need for observing measures like; banning tanning beds usage in younger populations, which need to be considered to ensure a healthy life span a fact supported by Rhainds, et. al., 1999. Further awareness through building of capacity, to ensure the public understanding is needed, through noting of Sun UV radiation overexposures and other sources, which are considered artificial, for the sake of upholding public health according to Karagas, et. al., 2002, hence, awareness should look into individual’s appearance, giving light on the potential impacts, while assuming people’s desire of being considered beautiful for the sake of observing the medical cautions.
References
Armstrong, B. K., & Kricker, A. (2001). The epidemiology of UV induced skin cancer. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology, 63(1), 8-18.
Demko, C. A., Borawski, E. A., Debanne, S. M., Cooper, K. D., & Stange, K. C. (2003). Use of indoor tanning facilities by white adolescents in the United States. Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine, 157(9), 854-860.
Gasparro, F. P. (2000). Sunscreens, skin photobiology, and skin cancer: the need for UVA protection and evaluation of efficacy. Environmental health perspectives, 108(Suppl 1), 71.
Karagas, M. R., Stannard, V. A., Mott, L. A., Slattery, M. J., Spencer, S. K., & Weinstock, M. A. (2002). Use of tanning devices and risk of basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 94(3), 224-226.
Knight, J. M., Kirincich, A. N., Farmer, E. R., & Hood, A. F. (2002). Awareness of the risks of tanning lamps does not influence behavior among college students. Archives of dermatology, 138(10), 1311-1315.
Levine, J. A., Sorace, M., Spencer, J., & Siegel, D. M. (2005). The indoor UV tanning industry: a review of skin cancer risk, health benefit claims, and regulation. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 53(6), 1038-1044.
Matsumura, Y., & Ananthaswamy, H. N. (2004). Toxic effects of ultraviolet radiation on the skin. Toxicology and applied pharmacology, 195(3), 298-308.
Rhainds, M., De Guire, L., & Claveau, J. (1999). A population-based survey on the use of artificial tanning devices in the Province of Quebec, Canada. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 40(4), 572-576.
