BY TASTE FOR LIFE STAFF
sun safety don’t get burned
Sunlight is necessary for human health— it helps your body make the vitamin D needed for strong bones and good mood. The sun’s bright rays also have a dark side: UV radiation exposure can lead to sunburn, skin cancer, and premature aging.
Fake it, don’t bake it!
Any type of tanning—indoors or outside— results in damage to your skin and increases your risk of developing skin cancer. Although tanning beds have historically been considered “low risk,” some research suggests the chance of developing melanoma increases by as much as 75 percent for those who use tanning beds or sun lamps, especially if regular use begins before age 30. Sunless tanning products offer a safer alternative to sunbathing and tanning beds. To minimize potential exposure to chemicals in sunless tanning products, choose formulas without preservatives, parabens, or artificial fragrances.
SELECTED SOURCES “Dangers of indoor tanning,” American Academy of Dermatology, www.aad.org • “Indoor tanning: The risks of ultraviolet rays,” US Food and Drug Administration, www.fda.gov • “Tanning and your skin,” Skin Cancer Foundation, www.SkinCancer.org, 5/21
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JUNE 2022
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