SAFE TANNING

One of the greatest misperceptions that patients have about their skin and skin care is that a base tan is good for you and protects your skin. This is in contrast to the opinion of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) which states, "UV radiation from the sun, tanning beds, or sun lamps may cause skin cancer. While skin cancer has been associated with sunburn, moderate tanning may also produce the same effect. UV radiation can also have a damaging effect on the immune system and cause premature aging of the skin, giving it a wrinkled, leathery appearance.

There is no such thing as a safe suntan. A suntan is the skin's response to an injury, and every time you tan you accelerate the aging process as well as increase your risk for skin cancer. Skin cancer is no respector of age or gender. Eventhough many of our sun damaged patients are a result of the sun exposure from their youth, the annual incidence of melanoma in the U.S. rose significantly in younger women in 2001 from 10 years ago. The effects of that sun damage that we treat in our office include fine lines and wrinkles, age spots, pigment changes, broken blood vessels, enlarged pores, rough & dry skin, lack of elasticity (collagen loss), and uneven skin tone.

The Alternative? *SUNLESS TANNING* There are two safe UV-free ways of getting that golden glow. First, many spas and salons offer spray tans. This is an FDA approved ingredient that reacts with the skin to give a tanned appearance. The other alternative is tanning creams that use the same type ingredient as the spray tans. Most are available over the counter.

Protecting your skin from damaging UV rays will preserve your natural beauty and decrease your risk of skin cancer.

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