Skin Cancer

[teraL]

Do you think that tanning beds are a cause of skin cancer?

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

'There is overwhelming evidence that tanning bed side effects are damaging to the skin. The whole object of tanning is to look better. However the side effects of tanning are so damaging to the skin that the results can be older looking skin or even death. Some of the most devastating results of the tanning bed side effects include:

* Malignant melanoma - This is a skin cancer that is developed in the skin cells that give the skin its pigmentation. This form of melanoma has increased more rapidly over the last 4 decades than any other form of cancer. In the United States, this type of cancer is responsible for over 80 percent of deaths linked to skin cancer

* Basal cell carcinoma - This is the most common form of skin cancer. This cancer presents as shiny pink or a red lump on the skin surface. These little cancers can appear on the face, scalp, nose or ears.

*Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common type of skin cancer. This cancer presents as pink lumps on the skin. The skin area may look scaly and then becomes a sore. These pink lumps become ulcerated and easily bleed. These pink lumps are found on the face, neck, lips, ears, hands, shoulders, arms and legs.

The effects of the UV radiation from the sun or the UV radiation of tanning beds are the same. Ultra violet radiation causes all three types of skin cancer. '

You could read more about this at -

http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/tanning/risks.html

and

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanning

It would be advisable to consult your doctor if you have any of these symptoms.

Let us know if you need any other information.

Regards.

[Pum]

Definitely. Many studies have shown this.