I have read more reports about indoor tanning recently and it is one of those things where the tide has yet to turn and unfortunately it remains too popular.  It seems, notwithstanding a lot of coverage about the dangers of indoor tanning, that this is still incredibly popular, especially with younger women.  It seems sadly, as with smoking, that although the word is out as to how dangerous it is, a lot of people simply ignore it in the name of vanity and looking good, and subject themselves to dangerous rays.  

In some States in America you now need parental consent before you can use the machines, if you are under 18, and some have adopted an outright ban on minors using them.  Apparently, the incident rate of melanomas in women under the age of 40 has risen by more than a third since the 1990’s, but tanning salons are still extremely popular.  It is funny how perceptions change, and it seems strange to read that many years ago being tanned was not considered socially desirable – and was similar to having calluses on your hands – sending out a message that you were a low status worker who worked outdoors in the sun.  

Now, a suntan is considered glamorous and despite the fact that lots of sun will make you look 40 at the age of 30, a lot of people cannot stop.  The World Health Organisation found, as far back as 2009, that using sun beds before the age of 30, was associated with a 75% increase in the risk of a melanoma and another study, in 2012, found that every four sessions that you have on a tanning bed before the age of 35, increase your risk of certain skin cancers by 15% - each time!  

An interesting study by the CDC, which is the Centre for Disease Control, also found that young women who use sun beds, because it is largely younger women who use them, generally also indulge in illegal drug use and are far more promiscuous than women who don’t use the sun beds.  That would indicate, to a certain extent, that they are aware of the risks of these beds, but have taken a gambling approach of live for today and to hell with the consequences.  There will always be those who say that people should be free to do as they want, but the other side thereof is that, even if they are not harming others, they will cost others extra taxes in the form of the hospital treatments and therapy they need at a later stage to try and save their lives.