Hair Alternative Medicine

Youth People Obsessed With Sunless Tanning


Darker-complexioned teens will always seek a tanning bed or booth. Because they want a perfect and perpetual tan.

Younger, healthier, sexier, thinner

Many teenagers are either obsessed with tanning or addicted to a darker-complexion. According to psychologists, a cosmetic ideal obsession or an emotional addiction might be the cause. "Younger, healthier, sexier, thinner" - is the message a bronzed complexion is sure to send out. The medical community is trying to confront this trend by educating teenagers that too often and too intense tanning can be risky. It's nothing wrong to be tanned, on the condition of:

  • gradual and moderate indoor tanning session

  • using without exception proper sunscreen indoor or sunscreen/sunblock outdoor

  • avoiding childhood sunburns

Thus, skin cancer risks are avoided. Are kids complying to medical warnings? According to Associated Press, only a third of 10,079 preteens and adolescents surveyed in 2002 said they had regularly used sunscreen during the former summer. About 10 percent admitted that they had used a tanning bed. And there is more. Most of those surveyed said they have suffered at least one sunburn during the previous summer.

Another significant study comes from Boston University. Researchers questioned about 10,000 children of nurses across the United States participating in the Nurse's Health Study. The study started up in the late 1980s. The conclusions weren't so positive. Only 34 percent of the teenagers - aged 12 to 18 -, reported using sunscreen regularly, and 83 percent had suffered at least one sunburn. 36 percent of surveyers had endured three or even more sunburns during the previous summer. Teenagers were familiar to tanning beds: 14 percent of the girls surveyed had used a tanning bed, rising to 35 percent among 17 year old girls.

Representatives of American Academy of Dermatology are puzzled since indoor tanning is so unnecessary. It's not associated with playing sports or other outdoor activities. It is practiced exclusively for cosmetic reasons.

So young, so careless

Modern indoor salons gave up here and there traditional tanning beds and began to offer safer alternatives such as spray-on tanning or tanning booth which do not include UV light. Despite these better choices, youth would rather go to tanning beds using UV radiation because it is cheaper. They got there wrongly believing that tanning beds are safer than real sun exposure. They seem careless even if they are aware that UV rays delivered indoor are as dangerous as those outdoor.

It's obvious that relatively few teenagers are aware that sunburns increase their risk of skin cancer. Yet they continue to use tanning beds regularly. What happens during childhood is crucial; an early sunburn history is the foundation of potential further cancer. Nationalwide warning campaigns in the United States didn't show too many improvements in teens' attitude. But things have to be changed drastically, since melanoma is rising to critical range. In the past years, at least 13 states have begun to regulate teen tanning (bed or booth exposing) by:

  • requiring parental presence

  • asking written parental agreement for teenagers under 18.

    The state of California asks for a doctor's prescription; otherwise, indoor tanning sessions are forbidden for kids under 18. Moreover, a bill in Maryland requires all three: parental presence, written consent of parents and medical approval ! The sooner teens learn to protect their skin, the better. Skin cancer is mostly incurable.

    About The Author

    Dana Scripca writes for http://www.sunlesstanning.ws where you can find more information about Sunless Tanning.

    Please feel free to use this article in your Newsletter or on your website. If you use this article, please include the resource box and send a brief message to let me know where it appeared: mailto:danascri@gmail.com


    MORE RESOURCES:

    DAWN.com

    Integrated health services crossing the divide
    Vancouver Sun
    Putting alternative health services under one roof has proven a benefit for an industry that often faces skepticism on the part of patients and doctors, ...
    Medical educationDAWN.com
    Doctors must face regular audits for sake of patientsIrish Independent

    all 19 news articles »


    Alternative health care 101
    Vancouver Sun
    Here's a breakdown of a few of the alternative health-care practitioners available, explaining the basics of what they offer and tips about their trade. ...

    and more »


    Perriello okays Senate bill abortion language, still undecided on health care
    Washington Post (blog)
    I voted for the Stupak Amendment--the only alternative offered at the time--because it ensured no federal funding of abortions, even though it also went ...

    and more »


    New York Daily News

    Beware Obama's one-sided coin
    Lompoc Record
    Health care reform has been hotly debated for the last year; many claim that Republicans offered no alternative, but wait, they have! ...
    Pelosi: Dems will have votes to OK health careSan Francisco Chronicle
    The Health Care LetdownNew York Times
    On Tap in the Capitol - Tuesday, March 16, 2010Wakulla.com
    Naperville Sun -Washington Post (blog) -NBC Connecticut
    all 3,801 news articles »


    Canadians turning to “vitamin cocktails” to boost energy, health
    Vancouver Sun
    The report indicates about 20 per cent of the nation's population aged 12 or older have used some form of alternative health care in the span of a year. ...

    and more »


    TopNews United States

    Integrated Health Services Set to Win Patients
    TopNews United States
    Creating alternative health services has proved to be an advantage for an industry that often deals with uncertainty. "People have become more educated and ...



    Puzzling exit at Blue Cross
    Boston Globe
    ... and waste in the health care system.'' The focus on costs led to one of the most important new ideas at Blue Cross, the Alternative Quality Contract. ...

    and more »


    UPI.com

    VP: GOP lacks 'tangible alternative'
    Politico
    'Tell that to the fellow who is out of work; tell that to the family that can no longer afford health insurance.' " 'I love these guys who think everything ...
    UPI NewsTrack TopNewsUPI.com

    all 56 news articles »


    Economist (blog)

    5 Health Care Reform Changes Small Businesses Need To Start Thinking About Now
    The Business Insider
    The Health Care Exchange: The health care exchange is meant to provide alternative insurance options for small businesses. Currently, small businesses are ...
    Mitch Daniels Sounds Off on Health Care BillAssociated Content
    Letter: Health care reform has numerous benefitsVero Beach Press-Journal (subscription)
    Without Reform, Family Health Care Spending To Skyrocket; 34% Increase By 2015 ...eNews Park Forest
    Western Standard (blog) -Baraboo News Republic -Yankton Daily Press
    all 176 news articles »


    Blame for Democrats — and Republicans
    New York Times (blog)
    What's more, the core of the Senate's legislation closely resembles the very bill the Republicans offered in 1993 as an alternative to the Clinton plan. ...

    and more »

    Google News

  • home | Iridology | "Mind Machines" | "Alternative Health" site map | Iridology Site Map | "Alternative Botox"
    © 2000 - 2010