Sunburn and Indoor Tanning Still Putting Young People at Risk for Skin Cancer
Young adults are risking serious skin damage for some color. Two new government studies report that sunburn is common among young adults and that many young people — especially young white women — aren’t getting the message about the dangers of tanning salons.
In one study, researchers report that 50% of young adults between ages 18 to 29 said they had suffered at least one sunburn in the previous year. This is despite the fact that they also reported increasingly using preventive measures like wearing sunscreen, staying in the shade and wearing long clothing to the ankles. The rate of sunburn was significantly higher among whites (65.6%) than blacks (10.9%).
(MORE: Study Finds Dramatic Rise in Skin Cancer Among Young Adults)
The persistently high rate of sunburn suggests that people are either not using sun-protection measures enough or correctly. Indeed, while using sunscreen was among the most commonly reported preventive methods, adherence remained low overall, with 37.1% of women and 15.6% of men saying they used it. “We were unable to assess correct use of sun protection methods in this study, such as adequate application of sunscreen,” says researcher Dawn Holman, a behavioral scientist for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Sunburn, which indicates overexposure, is concerning since it raises the risk of skin cancer, the most common cancer in the U.S. Each time a person burns, his or her risk of skin cancer goes up. Holman said the research team was unable to analyze the length and frequency of people’s sun exposure or whether burns came from sun exposure or tanning bed use.
(MORE: Fake Tans Help Keep Women Out of the Sun)
The second study reports that despite public-health warnings, indoor tanning is still popular with young white women. Overall, in 2010, an estimated 5.6% of U.S. adults reported indoor tanning at least once. But nearly one-third of white women ages 18 to 25 reported using tanning beds — a known cancer risk factor. Indoor tanning is particularly dangerous for young people: indoor tanning before age 35 increases a person’s risk of getting melanoma by 75%.
Even more alarming is the finding that among white adults who used tanning beds, 58% of women and 40% of men said they indoor tanned 10 or more times in the previous year. Overall, women who reported using tanning beds said they had about 20 tanning sessions a year; women between the ages 18 and 21 tanned indoors an average of 28 times. A recent Mayo Clinic study found that rates of melanoma in young adults skyrocketed over the past several decades, likely due to indoor tanning .
“These studies reinforce the need for continued public health efforts to facilitate sun protection, reduce indoor tanning bed use, prevent sunburn and avoid future increases in the burden of skin cancer,” says Holman. “Evidence suggests that clinical counseling to promote skin cancer prevention can increase sun-protective behaviors and decrease indoor tanning.”
(MORE: Why Teens Sunbathe More, Use Sunscreen Less)
Skin cancer is not only deadly, but costly too. The researchers report that skin cancer costs an estimated $1.7 billion to treat and $3.8 billion in lost productivity annually. Both reports stress the need for increased public health efforts to help raise awareness of the dangers of overexposure and to create environments and social norms that foster increased sun protection.
To protect yourself from sunburn and an increased risk of skin cancer, Holman recommends the following:
- Avoid indoor tanning
- Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher and both UVA and UVB protection
- Seek shade, especially during midday hours (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
- Wear long clothing to protect exposed skin
- Wear a hat with a wide brim to shade the face, head, ears, and neck
- Wear wraparound sunglasses that block as close to 100% of UVA and UVB rays as possible; this protects skin around the eyes from exposure and reduces the risk of cataracts and ocular melanoma
(MORE: In Young Tanners, Fear of Wrinkling Is Worse than Cancer)
Both reports analyzed data from the 2000, 2003, 2005, 2008, and 2010 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and are published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Article originally published at http://healthland.time.com/2012/05/10/sunburn-and-indoor-tanning-are-still-putting-young-people-at-risk-for-skin-cancer/ by By ALEXANDRA SIFFERLIN
When Mascara Isn’t Enough
Discovered this article by LAURA JOHANNES at the Wall Street Journal and we wanted to share it with you.
Another Wand for When Mascara Isn’t Enough
For some women, mascara just doesn’t cut it anymore. Women are using eyelash enhancers to create thicker, more dramatic-looking lashes. Latisse, approved to treat people with inadequate lashes, is being used mostly by women with normal eyelashes, physicians say.
Dozens of over-the-counter products are marketed with claims of enhancing eyelash prominence, but only Latisse has regulatory approval based on strong scientific evidence to say it grows eyelashes.
Caring for Dry Skin
Dry skin often means itchy skin. Preventing the itch with routine moisturizing of the skin is the best treatment.
In the winter itchy skin is usually more of a problem. Cold air means low humidity, when heaters are turned on the air gets even drier. Your skin dries out too.
The skin has a natural barrier to reduce moisture loss. This barrier or shield is made up of a dead layer of skin cells mixed with lipids or fats. This barrier cannot always withstand the repeat soap and water exposure. Harsh detergent soaps are the worst because they strip the fats away. If you use washcloths and other scrubbing pads you may be doing more harm than good.
Decrease your shower/bath time to about 5 to 10 minutes. Decrease soap use and limit your lather to the pits, groin and face. Soaps that are well known for being gentle include: Dove, Caress, Oil of Olay, Aveeno, and Cetaphil (not Ivory!!).
When you get out of the shower, before drying off, try rubbing a thin film of petroleum jelly into the wet skin, then pat (not rub) dry with a towel. It takes some trial and error but this is a wonderful way to lock moisture back into your skin and the jelly creates a barrier over your skin.
New Product: iGrow Helmet – Thicker, Fuller, Healthier Hair
The Science Behind iGrow
The hair loss process. Hormone related hair loss (DHT for men and hormonal imbalance in women) causes the follicle to produce thinner hair shafts. An additional result of this condition is that the blood supply to the follicle is decreased causing the hair follicle to atrophy.
The iGrow solution. If your follicles have been challenged by hormonoal factors, here’s how the iGrow can help . . .
Low Level Light Therapy (LLLT) Stimulates Cells
LLT revitalization isn’t superficial. Cells absorb the low level light and become more active, this is known as photo-biostimulation. It’s like givingyour cells vitamins for a healthy metabolism! Cells then begin to repair and revitalizae themselves, leading to thicker, fuller, healthier hair.
Dermatology Treatments for Acne
Acne is one of the most common reasons teens and young adults turn to the help of a dermatologist. If you are considering dermatology to treat your acne, here are some of the treatments your doctor may recommend.
One of the first things your doctor will likely do is discuss your skin hygiene with you. Contrary to popular belief, poor skin hygiene does not cause acne. Oily skin is not what causes acne, and often overly cleansing the skin and scrubbing it with exfoliants and other products can actually make the acne problem worse. In dermatology, most doctors recommend cleaning with a non-detergent cleansing bar when your face is dirty, and nothing more. Your doctor will also advise you not to pick or squeeze your pimples or nodules.
Your doctor may also instruct you to make some minor dietary changes. You cannot “diet” away your acne, but chocolate, nuts, and colas can make your acne worse. If you commonly consume many of these foods, your doctor may advise you to limit them to help your acne heal.
One of the ways dermatology treats acne is through topical medications. You can get these over the counter or through a prescription. The over the counter options dry up pimples and kill bacteria, while the prescription options promote cell turnover to prevent the hair follicles from plugging, all while killing bacteria. If you have sensitive skin, these may irritate your skin, so talk to your dermatologist about ways to use them without creating irritation.
