Benefits Of Suntanning Essay, Research Paper
Many people think there is no such thing as a GOOD tan. Did you know it may be more dangerous NOT to tan? Avoiding regular sun exposure may have greater risks than getting too much sun. New research proves that many forms of deadly cancer are caused by sunlight deprivation.
Today I will tell you why most people should expose themselves to sunlight. I will inform you of the many ways we benefit from suntanning, how to understand sunlight, and also how to attain a healthy tan.
Tanning is the browning of the skin resulting from moderate exposure to ultra-violet light. It is nature s skin protection from the reddening of the skin resulting to over exposure to ultra-violet light otherwise known as burning. Burning should be avoided at all costs.
If tanning truly provides protection, why then are people constantly being told to stay out of the sun? The answer lies in understanding sunshine.
The sun emits three types of ultra-violet rays. The shorter the ray, the more dangerous it becomes.
- The shortest of the three is UVC. It is unable to penetrate the earth s ozone layer.
- Only UVA and UVB are able to enter the earth s atmosphere, and of those two, the shorter is UVB, and it is responsible for burning. UVA, which is the longest ray, is responsible for tanning.
Outdoors, UVB can reach levels of up to 40%, making is easy to burn-even for darker skin types.
This poses a real dilemma for those who want to acquire a tan without the dangers of burning. This dilemma has been solved by the indoor tanning industry.
Indoor tanning bed emit approx. 1/10 of UVB experienced outdoors. They minimize the chances of burning and the negative consequences that come with it. This is great news for those wanting to reap the positive benefits from tanning.
Unlike sunscreen, a tan provides reliable full spectrum protection from burning. Your natural tan offers protection that won t rub, sweat, or wear off like sunscreen lotion can.
I often hear people say that they don t tan because they are afraid of getting cancer, but tanning actually prevents some cancers.
People who live in regions with more sunlight have been found to have a lower incidence of death from ovarian, colon, and breast cancer than those who live in places with less sunlight.
The main danger of cancer is from excessive sunburn, and tanning beds are obviously specifically designed to avoid sunburn.
Sunlight and sun tanning beds that admit UVB are reliable sources of vitamin D. Vitamin D is necessary for our bodies to use the calcium we get from our diet.
-this vitamin in found in very few foods
-one study showed that vitamin D greatly lacking in the fortified milk supply in the US
Your skin produces vitamin D naturally when exposed to sunlight. A sunscreen of SPF-8 or higher has been found to disable and halt the skin s ability to produce vitamin D.
Sunlight and simulated sun doses are a successful treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder- otherwise known as the winter blues. The symptoms of SAD are sadness, insomnia, and carbohydrate cravings.
Sunlight exposure has been known to improve low winter moods. Indoor lighting, on the other hand, is generally perceived by the brain as near darkness.
Exposure to bright light has been found to alleviate some symptoms of Pre Menstrual Syndrome such as mild depression, mood swings, irritability, physical discomfort, and social withdrawal.
Sunlight helps synchronize the biological clock, which results in better quality sleep, daytime alertness, and optimal health in general.
-The more sunlight exposure you get during the day the more in-sync your environment will be with your biological clock.
Exposure to UV light is commonly prescribed by doctors to alleviate the unsightly appearance and discomfort of psoriasis. Doctors also prescribe drugs that work with UV light treatments.
Another benefit of tanning is the prevention of jet lag. Doses of sunlight or simulated sunlight timed carefully upon arrival in a new time zone, can re-set your body s biological clock resulting in less daytime drowsiness and better quality night time sleep.
There are four factors for why people tan.
-The 1st is THE FEEL GOOD FACTOR. The overwhelming response of customers is that using a sunbed brings an all around improvement to their well-being.
-The 2nd factor is THE BODY. The luxury of lying down an a sunbed, surrounded by warmth and cooled by a beautiful breeze system is a rare opportunity to relax in a hectic world.
-The 3rd factor is YOUR MIND. Tanning indoors is a time for quiet. Being away from the phone, work, school, and home allows resoration of the mind.
-The final factor is YOUR FEELINGS. Tanning makes you look better, and looking better makes you feel better about yourself. The better you feel about yourself, the more you will look after your health in other ways, and the more confident you will feel with others.
Tanning indoors is not recommended for everyone. Anyone with type 1 skin (albino or extremely fair skinned) generally burns rather than tans when exposed to the sun s rays. They should be very cautious when tanning indoors or outdoors.
People with a large number of freckles or moles and who have had a history of sunburning when you were a child are not recommended to tan.
Pregnant women should consult their doctor before tanning-not because of the ultra violet rays, but due to the warmth emitted from the tanning bed
Anyone taking antibiotics, diuretics, or photosensitive drugs, or anyone with a sun-sensitive condition should check with his or her physician or pharmacist before tanning.
In many states you are restricted from tanning if you are under the age of 18 MN is not one of those states.
CONCLUSION**
Beyond its attractive cosmetic appeal, tanning in moderation has been proven to reduce the risk of developing breast, colon, and ovarian cancers. Moderate tanning lowers blood cholesterol levels, strengthens bones and teeth, reduces depression, aids in weight loss, increases immune response, and heightens physical performance. If you still remain unconvinced about the desirability of a tan, ask yourself one final question . Who ever heard of tall, PALE, and handsome?