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Health & Fitness

Blog: Tanning Beds and Sunscreen

Protect yourself from the deadliest form of cancer by using sunscreen and avoiding tanning beds!

Being in the group of fair-skinned people who just burn (and do not tan), I have never understood sunbathing or wanting to expose yourself to the suns harmful rays for a long period of time. I have always used sunscreen since a very young age because I was burned so badly once, I never wanted to experience that pain again.

For a long time now, we've all heard the reports that skin cancer risk goes up tremendously by using tanning beds, but getting the word out is apparently still needed. This poor 26 year old had the fight of her life and lost. This is no joke, my friends. Quit the risky behaviors! Sun exposure sans sunscreen can lead to cancer, but so can using indoor-tanning beds! A major report released this past August reclassified tanning beds as "carcinogenic to humans." And a person's melanoma risk rises 75 percent if he or she started using a tanning bed before age 30. Did you see that statistic? 75 percent! Be smart, please! And use the FDA-approved guidelines for using effective and protective sunscreens. So, if you MUST be tan, why not consider a sunless tanner? No risk and you can look fabulously glowing without the worry! (And certain ones are highly rated, like this one, to keep you from looking oompa-loompa orange!)

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