Some people think it’s healthy to get some sun and often refer to darkened skin as a “healthy” tan. These people are terribly mistaken.
The dangers of sun tanning in Orange County
Tanning is to skin what smoking is to the lungs. In the 1940s, smoking and tanning were in vogue, symbols of glamour. Going out with friends meant having a smoke. Going to the beach meant slathering baby oil on your body and baking in the sun. Both harmful habits were considered healthy, and many advertising campaigns echoed that point of view.
In 2010, the National Cancer Institute estimated reports of more than one million new cases of skin cancer in the United States. In sun-worshipping Australia, two-thirds of Aussies will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the time they reach seventy.
What about the many Orange County tanning salons and beds?
Many Orange County residents are under the impression that tanning beds are a safe alternative to lying out in the sun. Well, they’re wrong. The risk of melanoma is nearly 75 percent higher for people who use tanning beds than for those who do not.
Why is the sun harmful? How can you protect your skin? How can you get a healthy bronze glow without baking in the sun? All of this information and more can be found in Dr. Tony Nakhla’s book, The Skin Commandments: 10 Rules to Healthy, Beautiful Skin. The book is available for purchase on Amazon.com.