Brentwood Press - Index

Brentwood Press - OakleyPress_05.02.08 - Index

MAY 2, 2008 HEALTH & BEAUTY THEPRESS.NET | 15B
When that golden
glow gets deadly
Nearly 2.3 million teenagers in the
U.S. tan indoors annually, and with
prom season right around the corner,
the temptation to tan is even greater.
But new research has found that the
use of sunbeds during a person’s teens
and 20s is linked to an increased risk of
melanoma, the deadliest form of skin
cancer.
The International Agency for Research
on Cancer (IARC) conducted a
thorough review of several studies associating
tanning bed use and melanoma
risk. The researchers showed that the
use of sunbeds by people under the age
of 35 can increase melanoma risk by 75
percent.
“It clearly increases the risk of skin
cancer, especially in young women, who
are the biggest users,” said Dr. Perry
Robins, president of The Skin Cancer
Foundation.
If the threat of melanoma isn’t
enough to scare teens away from tanning
booths, they should know that 90
percent of visible skin changes commonly
attributed to aging are caused
by exposure to ultraviolet radiation. UV
tanning accelerates the signs of aging,
including wrinkles, leathering and fi ne
lines, which can be seen as early as in
one’s 20s. Yet many teens will still desire
a bronzed glow for the prom. One safe
alternative is so-called “sunless tanners,”
also known as “self-tanning lotions.”
Sunless tanners deliver a perfectly
safe tan that typically lasts for three to
fi ve days. Unlike tanning beds, they
don’t involve dangerous ultraviolet rays
and are made with completely harmless
common ingredients. For a list of recommended
products that will give you a
sunless glow, check The Skin Cancer
Foundation’s Seal of Recommendation
list at www.skincancer.org.
Don’t be misled by products that
sound like self-tanning lotions, such as
“tanning amplifi ers,” “tan accelerators,”
“tanning promoters,” “tanning enhancers,”
and worst of all, “tanning pills.”
Many of these products interact with the
sun to create the tan, so they actually
end up exacerbating the damage done
to your skin.
Be sure to wear sunscreen. Even if a
sunless tanner is SPF-rated, the sun-protective
abilities won’t last longer than
two hours. So remember to apply an SPF
15 (or higher) sunscreen in addition to
the self-tanner.
THE RED RHINO IS LOCATED @6670 LONE TREE WAY STE 1, BRENTWOOD
(next door to Best Buy) for info call 925-240-6322 or www.redrhinosportsbar.com
Home of the Famous Margaritas
Cinco
de Mayo
Celebration
SATURDAY, MAY 3RD!
Mariachi Band
6-9pm
523 W. 10th Street • Antioch • 754-1355
www.CeliasRestaurants.com
Sun-Thurs 11-10 • Fri & Sat 11-10:30
San Mateo • San Rafael • San Bruno • Antioch • Palo Alto • Danville