Terrifying Truth Behind Tanning Beds

Winter is well underway and many of us are feeling the harsh affects of cold weather. Dry skin, dull hair, cracked lips and pasty skin are just a few of the beauty woes brought on by the cold. Perhaps our biggest complaint about the winter months is the lack of a tan or that dewy glow that only summer sun can bring. This drives many women to seek out the instant gratification of tanning beds. I myself used tanning beds for many years, beginning in high school.

Tanning beds are a quick and easy way to maintain a tan yearround. The allure of tanning beds is so powerful that many people frequent them on a weekly basis, including during the summer. The popularity of the reality television show, "Jersey Shore", exposes America's obsession with being tan -- an obsession which extends beyond the "guido" subculture. For example, there is a tanning salon on every block in the tiny town of Amherst where I went to college. There was always a long wait at any given time at one of these many tanning salons. I myself went tanning regularly in college, sometimes using my only spending money for the week on a few tanning sessions. The desire to look tan was overwhelming, not only for me but also for my friends and acquaintances.

Tanning to me was just another part of my beauty routine. It cleared my skin and eased the symptoms of my eczema. I was also under the misconception that my olive complexion decreased the my risk for skin cancer. Although I didn't use tanning beds constantly, I used them enough. I would go months without using them but would then jump right back into a regular tanning routine. This continued into law school.

Wake-up Call

During exams during the second semester of my first year of law school, one of my classmates was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma -- the most deadly type of skin cancer. He lost his battle with cancer two years later. It was after his death that I gave up tanning beds for good.

Around the same time of my classmate's untimely death, I was browsing a local magazine and came across an article about a young woman, Glenna Kohl, who also lost her battle with melanoma. Glenna was a Salve Regina graduate. She was born and raised on Cape Cod and worked as a lifeguard at a Barnstable beach during high school and college. She too loved looking tan year round and used tanning beds regularly. She discovered a lump in her groin during her senior year of college which lead to a diagnosis of stage III melanoma. The cancer continued to spread through her body and she died several years later. Her story was a true wake up call for me and should be for everyone reading who uses tanning beds. You can read more about Glenna's story here http://www.glennasfund.org/.

An explosive study was released in 2009 which found that using tanning beds before the age of 30 increases your risk for melanoma by 75%. This study was released in July around the same time I learned of Glenna's story.  Not to mention that tanning leads to premature aging, unsightly sun spots and splotches. No one want to be a leather face (remember that neighbor in "There's Something about Mary??)!

I gave up tanning beds for good in July 2009. Although I tanned less and less over recent years, I pledged to never again expose my body to tanning bulbs. I made an appointment with a dermatologist to have my body examined for skin cancer. Although the appointment was a terrifying experience for me, I knew that it was necessary. Like Glenna I was also a lifeguard, and my body has been exposed to a lot of UV radiation. I also needed the peace of mind. After an extensive examination using a special light I was given a clean bill of health. I will now be getting yearly skin exams. Melanoma is 100% curable if found early and removed properly. If you have used tanning beds, even sporadically, I encourage you to get your skin examined. It painless and easy and could save your life.

There are other ways to safely stay tan year round and can easily be added to your beauty routine.

During law school I discovered spray tanning. I found a great salon specializing in spray tanning, and I loved the instant and safe results I achieved with spray tanning. Even if you are fair skinned, a good bronzing specialist can use a formula to give you a natural look. Although there are some drawbacks to spray tanning -- it doesn't last as long as a natural tan and when the formula mixes with sweat it can produce a funky odor -- it is still 100% safe and natural (a good formula will use only natural plan extracts). A good spray tan will give you a very deep and dark tan.

I spray tan at home when I don't need a full body spray. I use Quick Tan which is a at-home spray tan system that is affordable and it produces salon-like results.  I purchase it through Ultimate Body Bronzing in Fall River where I get my spray tans done. It is a great tool for getting an instant tan before a night out. It is an instant bronzer which makes for easy application. Simply spray and blend with a cosmetic sponge and set with a blowdryer. A can retails for $25.00 and lasts approximately 3 months.

As I have mentioned earlier I also LOVE the Dior sunless tanner and bronzer for daily use. It is available at Sephora.