What’s so bad about tanning beds?

Ultraviolet radiation has been classified by the World Health Organization as a carcinogen – and getting your UV rays from a tanning bed may be even more toxic than getting them from the sun.

“Most tanning beds deliver fewer burning UVB rays, but they provide a much more concentrated dose of UVA radiation than the sun,” says Joel Cohen, M.D., a Denver-based dermatol-

ogist who serves on the teaching faculty for the University of Colorado and the University of California at Irvine. UVA rays don’t cause burning; the damage they do is less

immediately obvious. According to Consumer Reports, these rays penetrate deeply into the skin and accelerate age-related skin damage, raise the risk of melanoma and other skin cancers and suppress the immune system.

Protecting your skin

The best way to protect

against skin cancer is to avoid excessive exposure to UV rays. That means staying away from tanning beds and shielding your skin from the sun when you are outdoors.

Covering up should be your first priority. Research shows that people who rely on sunscreens alone tend to burn more

than those who stay in the shade and wear long sleeves.

When you are showing some skin, sunscreen is a must.

Apply a teaspoon of sunscreen per body part or area – 1 teaspoon for your face, head and neck; 1 for each arm; 1 for each leg; 1 for your chest and abdomen;

and 1 for your back and the back of your neck –15 to 30 minutes before going outside. Then reapply at least every two hours -- more often if you’re swimming or sweating excessively.

Keeping track of changes in your skin is important, too, notes Consumer Reports. Tanning

bed users should get annual skin checks, as should people who have a history of sunburns; fair skin, light eyes, or red or blond hair; a family history of melanoma; or a personal history of basal cell or squamous cell cancer.