Can `tanning` or skin tanning cause cancer and skin aging?

Arabia Weather - The process of tanning, tanning, or bronzing is the process of dyeing the skin, whether by lying in the sun to transform the skin color from white to bronze or tanned brown, or by using tanning creams, or through devices in the form of beds in beauty salons.

Tanning occurs as a result of a reaction in the skin that produces the pigment melanin, which gives the skin its brown color to protect it from the damage of the sun's ultraviolet rays.

People do tanning mainly for aesthetic reasons, as they see beauty in the bronze color of the skin, and with every tanning session, damage accumulates on the skin. Not only does the danger of tanning lie in skin burns, but also in the penetration of ultraviolet rays into the layers of the skin, which can contribute to acid damage. Nuclear and increased risk of skin cancer. UV rays also damage the skin's natural collagen, which can lead to signs of premature aging.

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Here are some of the risks associated with the tanning process, according to the Food and Drug Administration:

1. Sunburn: Signs of sunburn include redness and peeling, and may be accompanied by headache or fever. Sunburn occurs as a result of increased blood flow to the affected areas and the role of white blood cells in attacking damaged cells.
2. Skin cancer: The sun's ultraviolet rays cause damage to the DNA of skin cells, increasing the possibility of malignant tumors growing. Tanning increases the risk of skin cancer by up to 75%.
3. Premature aging of the skin: Intense exposure to harmful sunlight leads to damage to collagen and elastin fibers in the skin, causing wrinkles to appear.
4. Eye damage: Exposure to sunlight can cause corneal burns, increase the risk of eye infection and, in some cases, lead to cancer of the blood vessels of the eye.
5. Suppressing the immune system: Excessive exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays can suppress the body's immunity and natural skin defenses, increasing sensitivity to sunlight.
6. Addiction to tanning: Studies indicate that people who tan frequently may become addicted to this process, which can cause psychological problems such as depression when they are unable to be exposed to the sun's rays.
7. Dry skin and hair, skin allergies, itching, freckles, and melasma:** are all possible side effects of the tanning process.

Myths about tanning

There are many myths related to the tanning process, such as the necessity of tanning to obtain vitamin D, that there is no need to take precautions when exposed to sunlight if the skin is dark, that tanning beds are safer than natural sunlight, and others. It is important to make people aware that tanning can be dangerous and can cause serious health damage, including fatal skin cancer.

To protect your skin, it is recommended to use sunscreen regularly, seek shade during peak sun hours, wear appropriate clothing and sunglasses, and consult a dermatologist to evaluate the damage that may occur to the skin as a result of tanning procedures.

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Sources:

altibbi