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applaud local women. The core of the magazine is our inspirational women's articles, most of which feature local women but occasionally we are
able to interview national women who we feel provide a unique inspiration for our readers. Our other articles cover topics of interest such as food
recipes, home, garden, beauty, health, fashion, dating, parenting, seniors, finance, business, hair care, skin care, advice, real estate, insurance,
weddings etc. Each issue has a feature section as well. Many of our articles are written by local business people who provide information
relevant to their business expertise. The Applaud Women website is also a resource center for local women including the most comprehensive
listings of Restaurants, Weddings, Female doctors and Hotels. It also includes a number of informational pages with links, articles and RSS feeds
to both local and national websites of interest to women in NH & n. MA.
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| Tanning at a tanning salon... is it safe? By Dr. Archie Dickinson |
As the leaves change and the summer glow fades, I like to remind my patients to avoid the temptation of tanning booths. In my line of work as a
family physician, I get this question a lot. It becomes even more common as the daylight shortens and the cold weather sets in. The quick and
easy answer to this query is a forceful ‘No!’ but I should explain this in a bit more detail.
First, let me quickly review the physiology of tanning. Tanning, whether natural or artificial, exposes your skin to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. This
radiation injures your skin. In response to the exposure, your body produces the pigment melanin in an attempt to absorb the radiation and
protect against further injury. The bottom line is that a tan is a sign your skin has been damaged.
Ultraviolet radiation is a carcinogen – meaning it causes cancer. Just like smoking, there is no ‘safe’ dose of UV radiation. There is a mountain of
evidence that exposure to UV radiation increases the risk of subsequent skin cancer. There is no getting around it. If the fear of cancer doesn’t
scare you, maybe I can appeal to vanity – ultraviolet radiation is a major contributor to premature aging and wrinkles.
I have heard and read some arguments in favor of tanning. I often hear from patients that they are going to a tanning salon to get a base tan
prior to a tropical vacation, assuming that the tan will protect them from the blazing sun at their destination. Well, studies have shown that a tan
provides the equivalent of an SPF 3 – certainly not enough for adequate protection. In addition, people who pre-tan tend to stay out in the sun
longer and use less sunscreen on the theory that they are already protected, further damaging their skin.
I have also heard from the tanning industry that UV exposure is healthy because it produces vitamin D. Vitamin D has been the subject of recent
research suggesting it may have anti-cancer properties. It is true that UV exposure produces vitamin D in the body. It is also true that vitamin D
has health benefits. But, many foods contain vitamin D naturally and still others are fortified with vitamin D. In addition, there are numerous
supplements available for those who want to boost their consumption of this vitamin. Really, does it make sense to expose yourself to a known
carcinogen to supplement your vitamin intake?
By far, the risks of tanning far outweigh any potential benefit. One particular concern is the growth in the number of teenage users of tanning
salons. Tanning is particularly dangerous in this age group. The teen years represent a dramatic change in body chemistry and growth. This
leads to rapid cell turnover which makes the teen body more susceptible to UV damage and subsequent skin cancer later in life.
The bottom line is that tanning, whether natural or artificial, damages your skin. It ages you prematurely and increases the risk of potentially
dangerous skin cancers. Despite the arguments of the tanning industry, there are no health benefits to tanning beds that justify the exposure to a
carcinogen. The myth of the healthy tan must die. So, when your daughter asks you about going tanning, tell her to skip the lamps and go for the
spray-on variety. She and her skin with thank you for it later.
Archie Dickinson, MD
Merrimack Family Medicine
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Nashua
family physician, I get this question a lot. It becomes even more common as the daylight shortens and the cold weather sets in. The quick and
easy answer to this query is a forceful ‘No!’ but I should explain this in a bit more detail.
First, let me quickly review the physiology of tanning. Tanning, whether natural or artificial, exposes your skin to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. This
radiation injures your skin. In response to the exposure, your body produces the pigment melanin in an attempt to absorb the radiation and
protect against further injury. The bottom line is that a tan is a sign your skin has been damaged.
Ultraviolet radiation is a carcinogen – meaning it causes cancer. Just like smoking, there is no ‘safe’ dose of UV radiation. There is a mountain of
evidence that exposure to UV radiation increases the risk of subsequent skin cancer. There is no getting around it. If the fear of cancer doesn’t
scare you, maybe I can appeal to vanity – ultraviolet radiation is a major contributor to premature aging and wrinkles.
I have heard and read some arguments in favor of tanning. I often hear from patients that they are going to a tanning salon to get a base tan
prior to a tropical vacation, assuming that the tan will protect them from the blazing sun at their destination. Well, studies have shown that a tan
provides the equivalent of an SPF 3 – certainly not enough for adequate protection. In addition, people who pre-tan tend to stay out in the sun
longer and use less sunscreen on the theory that they are already protected, further damaging their skin.
I have also heard from the tanning industry that UV exposure is healthy because it produces vitamin D. Vitamin D has been the subject of recent
research suggesting it may have anti-cancer properties. It is true that UV exposure produces vitamin D in the body. It is also true that vitamin D
has health benefits. But, many foods contain vitamin D naturally and still others are fortified with vitamin D. In addition, there are numerous
supplements available for those who want to boost their consumption of this vitamin. Really, does it make sense to expose yourself to a known
carcinogen to supplement your vitamin intake?
By far, the risks of tanning far outweigh any potential benefit. One particular concern is the growth in the number of teenage users of tanning
salons. Tanning is particularly dangerous in this age group. The teen years represent a dramatic change in body chemistry and growth. This
leads to rapid cell turnover which makes the teen body more susceptible to UV damage and subsequent skin cancer later in life.
The bottom line is that tanning, whether natural or artificial, damages your skin. It ages you prematurely and increases the risk of potentially
dangerous skin cancers. Despite the arguments of the tanning industry, there are no health benefits to tanning beds that justify the exposure to a
carcinogen. The myth of the healthy tan must die. So, when your daughter asks you about going tanning, tell her to skip the lamps and go for the
spray-on variety. She and her skin with thank you for it later.
Archie Dickinson, MD
Merrimack Family Medicine
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Nashua