Have you heard? Oklahoma finally passed a bill banning tanning facilities to treat under the age of 18! At Skin Care Institute, we couldn’t be more pleased because healthy skin is our number-one priority. Our only wish is that the ban was extended to all ages because tanning beds are unhealthy for everyone, not just younger folk.
Despite their hazards, tanning beds remain an appealing option for many with an abundance of misinformation leading the charge. Here are three common tanning-bed myths that you should permanently delete from your radar:
Myth #1
Tanning beds are safer than the sun.
The idea that tanning beds provide a healthier type of UV light simply isn’t true. Both tanning beds and natural sunlight emit the same two types of harmful ultraviolet rays—UVA and UVB—which damage the skin, causing premature aging and increasing skin cancer risk.
Myth #2
A base tan protects your skin.
We’ve all heard that sunburns, not tans, are the real enemy in our fight against skin cancer, and that a base tan can actually protect your skin by preventing burns from the sun. Reality check: Any tan is a sign that your skin is being damaged. While it’s always a good idea to avoid sunburns (years of research indicate a strong link between sunburns and higher melanoma rates), there’s simply no such thing as a healthy or protective tan.
Myth #3
Tanning beds can give you extra vitamin D.
People love to tell you that too much sunscreen can actually harm you because it prevents your body from soaking up the sun’s restorative vitamin D emission. These same people claim that tanning beds are healthy because they can boost your vitamin D intake. The research is in, and there’s no doubt that adequate levels of vitamin D are essential for maintaining your health. What isn’t a must, however, is exposing yourself to cancer-causing UV rays to get it. For your health, popping a vitamin D supplement will do the trick. Depending on your age, the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine recommends anywhere from 200 to 600 IUs of vitamin D daily. Consult your doctor for your ideal dose.
Healthy skin is a breeze with a little help from the Skin Care Institute. For more information, call us at 918.948.9639 or click here to schedule your consultation today.
