Burning to be sexy

As summer rapidly approaches the American Academy of Dermatology cautions beach bums and tanning fanatics to beware of skin cancer.  Though there have been such warnings years before, it appears as though there is a strong possibility of an epidemic reaching the United States. 

According to a report in the April issue of the Mayo Clinic Health Letter, 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer; what’s more, a person's risk of the disease doubles if he or she has had five or more sunburns.

What may be even more disconcerting for summer outdoors enthusiasts is that the occurrences of some of the more common and treatable skin cancers such as Basal and squamous cell carcinomas, have increased significantly among females under the age of 40.  Previously it was thought that people over 50 were most commonly diagnosed with the cancers.

It doesn’t end there however.  The increase in popularity of tanning salons has also put Americans at higher risk to develop melanoma.  In fact, the Mayo Clinic posited that tanning beds bring about a greater risk of melanoma than sitting in front of the sun for long periods of time could.  

The report provides suggestions for remaining healthy and reducing the risks, including:

-apply sunscreen at least half-an-hour before you go outside even if it's cloudy or hazy outside. 

-Avoid direct sun contact between the hours of 10 AM and 4PM or at the very least limit the time in which you are directly under the sun.

-Use about an ounce of sunscreen — roughly a shot glass full — and reapply it every two hours.  Also protect your eyes and face with sunglasses and a broad-brimmed hat.

Though the exact numbers tend to vary, experts have warned for years the risks not only of tanning under the sun for long periods of time but also going to tanning beds.  So the question remains, what price are you willing to pay to be nicely tanned? 

Is it really worth putting your own health in jeopardy to look nice in a bathing suit for a few hours?  Often in society we see individuals more concerned with their outward apperance at the expense of their health. 

While many have speculated and reported as to the increasing hazards of being direct contact with the sun, it seems as though the warnings fell upon deaf ears. 

I can't say that we should completely disregard our personal appearance or that a nice tan is not attractive.  I am merely saying that as a society we need to set our health as a main priority, there is more to physical attributes than being tanned.