Don't Risk It

In the heart of winter, when your stuck inside, sun-deprived, and really starting to notice your summer color gone, it's always a little saddening. While it seems all too easy to just stop by the tanning booths who are shouting their sales to cure our winter fever, we might want to re-think what the tanning bed's are really selling.

We all have heard about the dangers of excessive sun exposure and tanning beds and how they can lead to skin cancer. But there are alternative consequences that aren't often as well known. Dr. Rucker, MD discusses these and particularly how they pertain to teens and young people, "You may think you look too pale and love the tan look now, but you will regret it later in life. Besides the risk of cancer, you are also signing yourself up for heavy wrinkles and dark age  spots." Moreover, the Skin Cancer Foundation tells us people who have tanned in tanning beds are 74% more likely to develop melanoma than those who have never tanned indoors.

While many salons won't disclose all the risks of their tanning beds, it is important to know the dangers that can arise including risk of cancer, pre-mature aging, brown spots, etc. If you're going through the winter blues or simply dreaming of your summer glow, try self tanners or lotions while we count down the days 'til summer!