Medical Questions » Skin Cancer Questions » Question No. 899
| Question: | It is many years since I have holidayed at the beach, but I plan one soon. Should I go to a solarium to get a tan before I go so that I don' t get burnt when I go to the beach. Is a solarium tan dangerous, or are chemical tans better? |
| Answer: | Ultraviolet (UV) rays cause tanning of the skin, and it does not matter whether these rays come from the sun or an artificial source, the results are the same.
If excessive amounts of UV rays hit the skin you will burn, and the more you are exposed, the higher your risk of skin cancer. A tan will not protect you from further burning or skin cancer.
Chemical tans can give you the brown colour you desire without any risk (except allergy to the preparation), but will not protect yout skin in any way.
Be sensible, and avoid both the solarium and the sun' s rays. Go on your beach holiday but follow the Anti-Cancer Council' s advice, and ' slip, slop, slap' to avoid burning, excessive tanning and skin cancer.
|
|
|
