Researchers say a new study from the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health and Masonic Cancer Center definitively links the use of indoor tanning devices to increased risk of melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer.

This research study involving 2,268 Minnesotans is the largest of its kind. It found:

• People who use any type of tanning bed for any amount of time are 74% more likely to develop melanoma, and;
• Frequent users of indoor tanning beds are 2.5 to 3 times more likely to develop melanoma than those who never use tanning devices. The study defines frequent uses as people who used indoor tanning for 50-plus hours, more than 100 sessions, or for 10-plus years. This increased risk applies similarly to all ages and genders.

It’s not often that you see “new study” and “definitive” in the same sentence, so this research should help put away any lingering doubt about the link between indoor tanning and melanoma. We know that overexposure to UV rays is destructive and in some cases, deadly. As I tell my patients, the only safe way to achieve a summer glow is to use a bronzer.

A new change in the health care reform is requiring tanning salons to charge a 10 percent tax on all indoor tanning services. It is hoped that the new tax on tanning salons will send a strong message to the public that indoor tanning has real risks, and potentially lower the number of young people visiting tanning salons on a regular basis.

 The medical profession has known for a long time that tanning is dangerous and increases a person’s risk of skin cancer. Skin cancer cases are at an all-time high in the United States; more than one million new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed this year. Melanoma, which is the most dangerous type of skin cancer, has also become the most common cancer among women ages 25 to 29. Multiple studies have shown the earlier a person begins to go to tanning salons, the greater the risk of skin cancer later in life.

Despite the cancer warnings, young people still visit tanning salons in increasingly large numbers, especially young women.

The only safe way to tan is to use sunless bronzer. The Sunless Tanning Bronzer offers you a brilliant radiance all year round, with SPF-15 protection to leave your skin smooth and supple. This  unique bronzer gives your skin the color you want, without the harmful effects of sun exposure. 

Say NO to the sun and tanning salons and YES to Dr Michelle Copeland’s Sunless Tanning Bronzer for a  beautiful, natural-looking glow that boosts your your skin with a blend of antioxidants and vitamins.

SPF is a measure of how long a person can stay in the sun without burning. An SPF 30 means thirty times longer than if you went out with nothing on. It’s important to keep in mind that all skin is different. A woman with very pale skin, of Irish heritage, for example, may last only a minute or two before her bare skin turns pink, so an SPF 30 would give her 30 minutes before she needed to reapply.

UVA and UVB: SPF measures a product’s ability to block UVB (burning) rays. A product’s power to shield against UVA (aging) rays is not currently labeled. UVA rays break down collagen and elastin fibers supporting skin. It doesn’t matter what your nationality is, if you don’t want wrinkles you need to guard against UVA light.

Sunscreen vs sunblock: Sunblocks are physical barriers; they sit on top of skin and reflect the rays off of it. The SPF-40 Lotion Mist Sunblock is a high power, lightweight mist that helps protect skin from harmful UVA/UVB rays. The mist helps prevent sun induced damage, as well as soothes the skin with aloe to reduce inflammation. Sunscreens are chemical UVA shields. They sink into tissue and when light hits them, they create a reaction that neutralizes the radiation. The Sunless Tanning Bronzer is a safe tanner with SPF-15 which offers a beautiful and natural-looking tan all year round. Not only does this bronzer give you amazing radiance, it is also rich in antioxidants and vitamins to leave your skin smooth and supple.

We all know that tanned skin is unhealthy skin, yet it’s hard to resist the glow that a little sunshine gives the skin. Did you know that it’s possible to have a healthy glow without exposing yourself to harmful cancerous UV rays with my Sunless Tanning Bronzer? It is the only sunless tanning product with SPF-15, antioxidants and vitamins to leave your skin smooth and supple. You can achieve radiant skin within an hour that will last approximately one week.  For best results, first exfoliate the skin with AHA Body Smoothing Lotion and then apply the Sunless Tanning Bronzer. Your friends will wonder where you got your golden glow and you’ll have the benefits of a winter tan without the risks.