Tanning

We're excited to present this story from our friends at Allure:

A new Yale study has found that tanning beds cause increased rates of early-onset basal cell carcinoma, the most common skin cancer. Tanning bed use increased the rates of BCC by 69 percent. This follows a University of Minnesota study that found that tanning bed users were 74 percent more likely to develop melanoma, the most deadly skin cancer. So it's not really a matter of whether you'll get cancer from using a tanning bed, but more like, "Which cancer will you get?"

Now, the results of these studies come as no surprise to anyone who has read beauty news in the last decade. So what I find shocking is that scientists are able to find people who still use a tanning bed. Seriously, who is STILL DOING THIS? Being pale is not that bad (trust me, I know first hand). And with self-tanners and spray-tans, there are better ways to get the glow. Yet, the World Health Organization estimates that 30 million Americans still use indoor tanning beds.

Have you ever used indoor tanning? And if you still go tanning, I'd love to hear why.

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The Golden State is about to get a little less golden. Teenagers under 14 are already not allowed to tan in California, but starting Jan. 1, the age limit will be raised to 18. As you might imagine, the Indoor Tanning Association, an organization that represents the tanning industry, is not pleased, citing that a decent-sized portion of its members' clients (5 to 10 percent) are under 18. But as more and more young women are being diagnosed with skin cancer, it's hard not to make the correlation between frequenting tanning beds at an early age and its proven dangers.

It's interesting to note a scary statistic pointed out by Sen. Ted Lieu, the author of the California bill. In Los Angeles County, there are more tanning establishments than there are McDonald's or Starbucks. So while you ponder that pumpkin latte and Big Mac, know that various state lawmakers have been in talks about banning tanning bed for teens for years; many states even have restrictions on the practice. And if California's new law is any indication, we can expect to see many more states following suit, too.

Baking in the sun or on a tanning bed is bad news for your skin. Since exposure to UV rays leads to wrinkles and skin cancer, many people are turning to spray tans instead. This UV-free alternative is meant to give your skin that kissed-by-the-sun glow. You stand in a booth as your skin is coated with a mist of sunless tanning solution. The active ingredient in most sunless tanning products is dihydroxyacetone (DHA), a chemical derived from glycerin. When applied to your body, the DHA reacts with the amino acids in the dead skin cells on the outer layers of your skin, temporarily producing a brown color that gradually fades within a week.

If you're wondering how safe spray tans are, keep reading.

Another good reason not to bake? That perfectly even golden glow is actually impossible for most people. Researchers from the University of Edinburgh found that some areas of the body are much more resistant to tanning than others — meaning people often overexpose themselves in a cycle of attempting to "even out" their tan.

Unsurprisingly, people's butts were particularly uneven tanners — compared to test subjects' backs, for example, they were initially much more resistant to tanning, and then when they did "get some color" it wasn't as much as in other areas of the body. In other words, if you've got a pasty posterior, it's a better idea to slather on the self-tanner than the baby oil. But you knew that already, right?

Last month, I attended my cousin's wedding in Pennsylvania, and as you might be able to detect, my tan lines also came along. Of course, if you have visible tan lines, you can always let them roam free, but in case you want to disguise them a bit, there are options. While you can always try a self-tanner, you run the risk of ending up with streaks or a strange orange glow. That's why my camouflage of choice is makeup. To get tips on how to MacGyver your way to evenly toned skin, just keep reading.

Despite the fact that tanning beds have now been classified as known carcinogens, people continue to risk developing melanoma just for a fake bake. Today, the 10 percent tanning tax goes into effect, so we wanted to break apart some persistent myths about tanning beds. Manhattan-based dermatologist Dr. Debra Jaliman has the straight facts on what tanning can and can't do. To see if you're in the know, just keep reading.

Earlier this month, YumSugar had a big event coming up, the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen. She wanted a healthy glow for the days-long festivities but didn't want to expose her skin to UV rays. (Smart cookie.)

Enter the spray tan. Yum decided to try Brown Sugar Boutique in SF. While this faux-tanning service can be performed by a machine, our foodie wanted the preciseness that only a human can provide. And while Yum decided to go in her birthday suit, most places provide paper underwear or let you wear your own skivvies. Find out about her experience with spray tanning when you read more.

Some people dismiss their frequent tanning appointments by claiming that they don't feel healthy or attractive without a tan, but new evidence suggests that they could be physically addicted to tanning.

Exposure to the high levels of UVA in modern tanning beds releases a rush of feel-good endorphins, and the sense that a tan makes you look thinner or prettier further reinforces that sense of well being. In fact, researchers at Wake Forest found that frequent tanners actually went through withdrawal when given medicine that blocks the pleasure centers that narcotics usually affect. And 26 percent of frequent tanners who filled out a standard questionnaire used to measure alcohol abuse fulfilled all the necessary criteria to be considered addicts. Now several researchers are angling to have "tanorexia," as it's half-jokingly known outside the medical community, added to the next Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders — the bible of therapists and analysts everywhere.

With all the negative information now out there about prolonged and overfrequent UV exposure, do you think tanning addiction should be classified as a disease?

Because of all the health risks associated with achieving a sun-kissed glow, I'm not big on tanning. Related: I was made fun of for being so pale at a friend's Summer wedding a few years back. A girlfriend quickly intervened and gave me liquid bronzer to use on my arms, shoulders, and legs — I've been a convert ever since. I like it because it gives the illusion of a natural tan but washes off at the end of the day.

I'm not the only one who likes using this stuff. Reality star Stephanie Pratt says she uses Sally Hansen's Sparkle Legs during bikini season to hide imperfections and cellulite. And the authors of Run Like a Mother say that they — and a lot of other marathoners — use similar products when running in shorts or skorts to make their gams look great in finish line and post-race photos.

If you're a little on the pale side and are self-conscious about working out in shorts this season, tinted body lotion or bronzer may be for you. Personally I'm a fan of Benefit's Jiffy Tan, which I tone down just a hint by mixing it with my everyday body lotion. Besides Jiffy Tan, there is Stephanie Pratt's favorite — Sally Hansen — which you can find at most drugstores. Both of these products have the slightest bit of shimmer to them, which works with the light to camouflage imperfections and tone down the appearance of cellulite. And if you do decide to use a product like this, make sure to rub it into your skin completely so it won't end up looking streaky on your legs.