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It’s summer, the time many of us wish for that lovely summer tan, but we all now know that time in the sun can also pose skin cancer risks. What limits do you place on your children?
Do you limit their time outside? Do you require certain sunscreen and reapplication? Do you buy sun protective clothing for them?
Pretanning at a Salon
The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that a national study found that 24 percent of non-Hispanic white teenagers 13-19 years old used a tanning facility at least once. The FDA says the ultraviolet rays pose a health danger.
Do you let your children use a tanning bed? How do you deal with children who have their heart set on that perfect tan? Do our children have a lot of peer pressure to have that tanned look?
Give us your thoughts in the comments are below.
Kathy A.
10:08 am on Sunday, June 17, 2012
My daughter is a beach bum already, she's only 4. But the rules are: sunblock before we leave the house to go anywhere, spf 55 or higher at all times, reapply every 2 hours, and if she looks at all pink its back indoors for a break. She is very good about remembering to check her bag for sunblock before we leave for preschool, and reminds everyone to put their "sunscream" on everyday.
Carol Mitchell
11:24 am on Sunday, June 17, 2012
As a summer resident of Ocean City, NJ from childhood to early adulthood, I was one
of the reflector and baby oil/iodine advocates to get that perfect tan. Fast forward 40 years and after 2 squamous cell cancers (next step melanoma) surgery and the assurance from several Dermatologists that I did this damage before age 16, I urge all parents to consistently use sunblock on themselves and their children...and follow the suggestion to limit sun exposure to before 10am and after 3pm.
linda spreeman
12:13 pm on Sunday, June 17, 2012
I too remember the baby oil/iodine concoction, and loved the shore as my grandparents lived there year round. I remember burns with blisters and peeling. Fortunately no cancers - but I am hyper viligilant about checking my skin and having annual checks by the dermatologist. If we only knew then what we know now....<Linda Spreeman, King of Prussia, PA>
Susan Kersch
1:45 pm on Sunday, June 17, 2012
I am white and I am proud! This is not a rascist statement..it is a comment about health! I have too many friends and family members who have had to deal with skin cancer that came from an aesthetic that demanded that they have "color" and more...the better. I have actually buried friends who have perished from melanoma....summers at the beach were actually like being a smoker. Tanned skin is damaged skin. Why Bother? All the people laying on the beach are enriching the coffers of dermatologists of the future. Not to mention wrinkles and blotchy skin. Pale Power is safe, youthful, and so modern if you are savy!
Ike
2:29 pm on Sunday, June 17, 2012
ha
PALE POWER
I LIKE THATT!
Susan Kersch
2:34 pm on Sunday, June 17, 2012
Pale Power.....I did not make that up......I should have given propers to that dear cute Anderson Cooper, That boy works so hard that he does not have time to lay in the sun. You have time to tan in this economy...you aint working hard enough!
Laura Balton
4:13 am on Monday, June 18, 2012
Same with you are doing Kathy A, I never let my kids out to the sun without bringing any sunblock. I learned from Dr. Mercola about this at http://tanningbeds.mercola.com/tanning-beds/tanning-oil.aspx , especially when I'm planning to use a tannning beds, my children is addicted to run over the beach but of course, I always check weather they already put a sunblock.
Walt
10:33 am on Monday, June 18, 2012
Healthy tan = oxymoron
Linda
11:52 am on Monday, June 18, 2012
When I was 35 I was diagnosed with stage 1 Melanoma. One removed from my leg and one removed from my back. The surgeon needs to remove 1 cm around the boarder. You would be surprised how big a centimeter actually is. The scars are not small. In order to sew up a circle removed from your leg or arm an ellipse is made so the skin can be sewn back together.On my back a flap stich ws used so it looks lide a big number 2. As an 8 year survivor of Melanoma I can say -the tan fads and the scars stay forever! Melanoma is the most common cancer among 25-29 year olds, the second most common in 15-29 year olds and the fastest growing in those under 30.
Everyone should see a dermatologist. Take your children too! It a really easy exam.
Here are 2 videos worth watching. One is the sun safety australian promo for Slip-Slop-Slap! It’s to help remind you of what to do in the sun! The second is a moving video about melanoma survivors.
Slip-Slop Slap
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzYHwzSE1VY&feature=related
Melanoma Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4jgUcxMezM
Diane
1:33 pm on Monday, June 18, 2012
Let me play devil's advocate here, but a tan is nature's way of protecting your skin. This is one of the reasons people's skin color varies based on their location on the globe. A light tan (aka healthy glow) while using sunscreen is not such a horrible thing. Sun worshipping and sunburns are a different story.
will ball
3:17 pm on Monday, June 18, 2012
Could you please elaborate and inform us exactly how a tan is "nature's way of protecting your skin?"
JDC
5:14 pm on Monday, June 18, 2012
THere is no such thing as a safe tan. Tanning indicates damage to the skin. Tanning beds are also dangerous - the World Health Organization has declared them to be carcinogenic - people who use them have a 75% higher risk of melanoma! (source: www.aad.org)
When we are at the beach, we use sunscreen and rash guard shirts. Sunscreen on the face all year round. The upside is, my kids will have way fewer wrinkles than my generation~
Diane
7:27 pm on Monday, June 18, 2012
People have different amounts of melanin in their skin based on their ethnic origin. Consider Brasilians and Egyptians, versus Russians or the Irish. This is based on adaptation to the climate/environment and position on the globe in relation to the sun's strength. Those with more melanin will tan from sun exposure (versus burn, which is more directly related to skin cancer). Those with less melanin will burn, which of course is a problem. People have lived and evolved for thousands of years without skin cancer, it is only now because of migration to different geographic locations where one has not been adapted to live that skin cancer is a problem. This is quite true in the u.s. as many of us are decendents from more northern latitudes. This is why I say if you have some limited sun exposure, wear sunscreen and get a light tan/healthy glow, it is not neccessarily such a horrible thing.
Linda
9:13 pm on Monday, June 18, 2012
Getting a little sun is unavoidable. But, a tan is not your bodies way of protecting itself. Any change in the color of your skin is a sign of damage - according to my dermatologist. I wear sunscreen on a daily basis and I do get a little tan from just running errands. I realize it’s not completely avoidable. It is just smart to take extra precautions when you are going to be in the sun for a long period of time between 10-3.
Being diagnosed with Melanoma is very scary. Melanoma is a very fast moving cancer. However, it is very curable if found in the early stages. So please, anyone reading this make your appointment and get checked!
This is a link to an article Dr. Weil wrote about how much sun you need to get in order to produce Vitamin D. It’s not much sun that is needed.
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA400732/How-Much-Sun-Exposure-for-Vitamin-D.html
This link to an article on The Sun and Your Skin. It has good information.
http://www.gosunsmart.org/yourskin/yourskin_effects.shtml
Diane
7:54 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
"Melanin PROTECTS the body by absorbing solar radiation. Excessive solar radiation causes direct and indirect DNA damage to the skin and the body naturally combats and seeks to repair the damage and PROTECT the skin by creating and releasing further melanin into the skin's cells."
" The tan that is created by an increased melanogenesis lasts much longer than the one that is caused by oxidation of existing melanin, and is also actually PROTECTIVE against UV skin damage and sunburn, rather than simply cosmetic?"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_tanning
will ball
12:37 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Diane, you're talking about two different things here. You're applying principles of micro evolution to support your viewpoint.
Furthermore, you're misquoting a wikipedia article.
christy myers baxter
1:42 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
"migration to different geographic locations where one has not been adapted to live that skin cancer is a problem" -- this is NOT the only reason that skin cancers are more prevalent, folks -- don't forget that the breakdown of the ozone layer has changed the amount of UV and sunlight that can get to our skin and affect it...
Diane
5:43 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Will, how exactly am I misquoting? Please explain. Why do you find it so difficult to believe a tan is your body's way of protecting the skin? Research it yourself. While you are doing that, look up cognitive dissonance as well. I haven't said anything against all the good points brought up here, I have just added further information.
Yes the change in the ozone layer is also a good point Christy. Below is an article that talks about migration and skin cancer rates:
http://www.forbes.com/2008/07/28/skin-cancer-hotspots-forbeslife-cx_avd_0728health.html
will ball
7:14 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Allow me to post the FULL article on wikipedia....
Some researchers have advised that tanning in moderation may be healthier than is commonly believed. Edward Giovannucci, professor of medicine and nutrition at Harvard, states that according to his research, people who have sufficient vitamin D due to UV exposure, and other intake, may prevent 30 deaths for each one caused by skin cancer.[20] His research also suggests that diet accounts very little for vitamin D3 necessary for curbing cancer. Michael Holick, former Boston professor of dermatology, claimed that moderate exposure to sunlight probably reduces risk to many forms of cancer, diabetes, seasonal affective disorder, and other diseases.[21] These researchers are vigorously opposed by most dermatologists, for example, Dr. Elewski, president of the American Academy of Dermatology, argued that minutes of exposure to sunlight can be dangerous, and that people can get all the vitamin D they need through supplements. Large clinical studies have found vitamin D produced both through exposure to sunlight and through dietary supplements dramatically decreases cancer risk, and helps cancer recovery.