Many Still Tanning, Despite Dangers, Survey Finds

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Since alot of these girls are looking up to actresses and models, commercials should be done with said celebreties. Ive read many magazines of actresses that say their go to anti aging product is sunscreen! Like Reese Witherspoon, Liv Tyler or other pale beauties. My family makes fun of me for being a sunscreen freak but out of all of them, i look alot younger than my age.

Eileen of CA 2:10PM May 27, 2012

My wife started tanning obsessively at age 43 while going though a midlife crisis. She insists that all the things that can happen to others will not happen to her. No way to talk sense to her; I'm just preparing myself for a) her freaking out when her skin starts to look like leather; and b) the eventual skin cancer diagnosis.

SP of CA 2:02PM May 27, 2012

This is another alarmist story which implies that ANY kind of sun exposure is dangerous.
Nonsense. The body/skin need the sun for the proper absorption of Vitamin D and exposure to sunlight is the most effective way to do that. This is why cultures in far northern climates utlize sun lamp therapy in winter months (google it).
Scientific reports have suggested that many Americans are low in this vitamin, possibly correlating with the fears stirred up by these kinds of reports and thus "encouraging" people to slap on sun blocks, etc.
Point well taken about being judicious, but it's just plain untrue that being exposed to sunshine is dangerous.

solange Powers of CA 1:36PM May 27, 2012

A sun burn is always a bad thing. But notwithstanding the risk of skin cancer, in the balance limited unprotected sun exposure (about 15 minutes per day for the average person in optimal conditions) is good for your health, as it is the best source of vitamin D3 (as well as producing a cascade of hormones such as serotonin that have positive effects). Endogenous production of vitamin d3 by your own body is superior to D3 consummed in supplemental form; this is why, e.g., doses of vitamin d that are toxic in pill form are not when endogenously produced. Lack of sun exposure has been directly linked to significant elevation of both cancer incidence and mortality rate for many of the most lethal forms of cancer by a large constellation of studies (most of which have been performed in low light countries outside the US). Lack of sun exposure has further been directly correlated with a host of other diseases including osteoporosis, diabetes, etc. Governmental anti-cancer and other health organizations in Australia, New Zealand, most if not all northern west European nations (such as Sweden, etc), and Asian countries including Taiwan all recommend limited unprotected sun exposure for most people. The powerful cosmetic product industry lobby largely based in the US undoubtedly has some influence and role in ensuring biased studies and incomplete information such as was presented in this article, as well as a dearth of information regarding the known risks of the nano particles used in many popular commercial sun block products.

Bill 12:46PM May 27, 2012

Really? Are we still spreading fear about tanning? Im sure a tanning bed isnt the best place to get a tan, but this fear mongering is downright silly.
How come we never had all these issues before these "Studies"? People tanned and never had any problems.

Roger of NE 12:04PM May 27, 2012

As the old saw goes, "Too soon old--too late smart." Amazing to see that young people are "unsure" if too much sun causes wrinkles. Seems they believe every bit of fantasy about the latest celebrity, but don't want to believe in science.

anne of IL 10:47AM May 27, 2012