Sunbathing...is it really worth it?

We all love the feeling of having a beautiful fabulous sun tan.  We feel thinner, more beautiful and overall better about ourselves.  Most of us are aware that UV rays are dangerous and can cause cancer, but we have to also keep in mind that the effects of the sun can significantly damage and age our skin.

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                                                                   Identical Twins and Sun Damage

Sun Damage

• Up to 90 percent of the visible changes commonly attributed to aging are caused by the sun

• Contrary to popular belief, 80 percent of a person’s lifetime sun exposure is not acquired before age 18; only about 23 percent of lifetime exposure occurs by age 18.

Indoor Tanning

• Indoor ultraviolet (UV) tanners are 74 percent more likely to develop melanoma than those who have never tanned indoors.

• People who use tanning beds are 2.5 times more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma and 1.5 times more likely to develop basal cell carcinoma.

• The indoor tanning industry has an annual estimated revenue of $5 billion.

• The International Agency for Research on Cancer, an affiliate of the World Health Organization, includes ultraviolet (UV) tanning devices in its Group 1, a list of the most dangerous cancer-causing substances.  Group 1 also includes agents such as plutonium, cigarettes, and solar UV radiation.