SUN SENSE: In Bradford, we never worry too much about a sun
burn. Rain, wind or snow burn, maybe.[neWLine]
You really have to work at getting a suntan with such an elusive
sun. But if you’re one of those people working at it inside a
tanning bed, you might want to consider this
information.[neWLine]
Tanning beds may be worse for you than old sol.[neWLine]
The American Cancer Society tells us that the fastest-growing
group affected by skin cancer is women under 40 who may not only
love to tan in the sun but also in tanning salons.[neWLine]
One study even indicated that women who tan in beds are more
likely to develop melanoma than those who don’t. In fact, some
tanning beds release much stronger UV light than the sun
does.[neWLine]
“”There was been mounting concern over the past several years
that people, and in particular teenagers, are using sun beds
excessively to acquire tans which are seen as socially desirable,””
according to Kerstin Leitner, Ph.D., the World Health
Organization.[neWLine]
As a result, melanoma, the most lethal form of the disease, is
the most common cancer in women ages 20 to 29.[neWLine]
So, regardless of age, you might want to remember the ABCD rule
in telling the difference between a normal mole and a
melanoma:[neWLine]
A: asymmetry – one half of the mole does not match the other
half.[neWLine]
B: border irregularity – the edges of the mole are ragged or
notched.[neWLine]
C: color – the color of the mole is not the same all over. There
may be shades of tan, brown or black and sometimes patches of red,
blue or white.[neWLine]
D: diameter – the mole is wider than about 1/4-inch, although
doctors are now finding more melanomas that are
smaller.[neWLine]
“”Other important signs of melanoma include changes in size,
shape or color of a mole. Some melanomas do not fit the
descriptions above, and it may be hard to tell if the mole is
normal or not, so you should show your doctor anything that you are
unsure of.””[neWLine]
Our solution to this whole problem? Spray-on “”tans”” that are
quite convincing. Besides, who wants to spend all that time and
sweat on something that could, honestly, kill you?
