Parents should talk to kids about dangers of tanning beds

With teens expected to turn to tanning beds in the fall to keep their bronzy summer glow, parents are encouraged to talk about the dangers of "fake baking."

"Using tanning beds before age 30 increases a person's risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, by 75 percent, research shows," said Dennis Hughes, assistant professor of pediatrics at M.D. Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital in Houston. "So, it's important to talk to your kids about tanning beds just like you'd discuss smoking, sex, drugs and alcohol."

Research-reporting service Newswise says 35 percent of 17-year-old girls have used tanning beds. One study showed tanning beds are addictive, with 80 percent of college kids who habitually tan saying they could not stop. Access to the facilities is easy, with an analysis of 116 American cities showing that tanning salons outnumber Starbucks or McDonald's.

Parent should talk to their children before they start frequenting tanning facilities, Hughes said. Children should know tanning beds emit the same harmful ultraviolet light as the sun and, consequently, are not safe. Rather than making them look attractive, "explain that tanning will actually make them look worse" in the long run, Hughes advised. (Read more)

Read More

Slap on sunscreen, avoid UV rays this Memorial Day Weekend

This Friday has been designated "Don't Fry Day," a reminder to sun worshippers to be mindful of the dangers of skin cancer on Memorial Day weekend, the traditional start of the summer recreation season.

The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention strongly urges the use of sunscreen if in the sun, but also recommends seeking shade, wearing sun-protective clothing and avoiding getting a suntan or sunburn altogether. It also recommends extra caution if near the water or sand. "While most everyone enjoys a sunny day, keeping your skin safe from overexposure to UV radiation can be easy by practicing simple sun-safety tips," said Dr. Sandra I. Read, Council co-chair.

The Council also recommends consulting the UV Index forecast, which assess the strength of solar UV radiation on a scale from 1 (low) to 11+ (extremely high).

Skin cancer is by far the most common type of cancer in the United States, research-reporting news service Newswise reports. More than 2 million new cases are diagnosed each year, more than new cases of breast, prostate, lung and colon cancers combined. Though the incidence of many common cancers is falling, the incidence of melanoma, which can be deadly, continues to rise. It is one of the most common cancers in young adults ages 15 to 29. (Read more)

Read More