there is no safe tan

From the file of ‘things we really don’t want to know but have to because they could kill us’ is a new report saying that sure as the sun will rise, sun tan beds are considered as certain as causing cancer as smoking is. Which sucks if you’ve been one of those tan worshippers hailing the UV light on a frequent basis. Better stop. Now.

It’s pretty serious stuff, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has put all types of ultraviolet rays in the highest risk group alongside plutonium and radium, calling them ‘carcinogenic to humans’. And if you frequented the tanning studios young, under the age of 30 (which I have to say would include most females I know), then you’re at an even higher risk of developing melanoma. 

They say: ‘Combined analysis of over 20 epidemiological studies shows that the risk of cutaneous melanoma is increased by 75% when the use of tanning devices starts before age 30. There is also sufficient evidence of an increased risk of ocular melanoma associated with the use of tanning devices’. 

It’s a debate that has been going on for some time and until this report tanning beds were classified as ‘probably carcinogenic’. 

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in New Zealand. It affects around 60,000 kiwis per year and causes 250 deaths per annum. And we’re still complacent about it. Skin cancer specialist, Dr Isaac Cranshaw says that New Zealanders are risking their lives by not being vigilant about skin protection and mole checks and that we should continue to do so even in the colder months. It pays to be sunsmart all year round.

“It tends to be out of sight out of mind,” he says. “People need to be aware that skin cancers don’t happen overnight rather, they are a build-up of years of UV radiation exposure. Skin damage suffered one summer may take months or years to show up so mole checks need to be done regularly.”

If you haven’t already done so, get a mole map. I’ve done it and yes, while you feel a leettle bit silly standing in your undies adopting strange action-like poses so they can photograph every inch of skin on your body, it is a relief to know that every mole is documented. So when you have one of those, ooh is that a new one? is it darker? misshapen? moments, you can actually check it against your own body blueprint. Genius. Because the thing about skin cancer is that it is treatable and nearly all skin cancers can be cured if caught early enough.

So the message becomes even louder. Even in winter we should be wearing sunscreen. And avoiding tanning beds. There is NO safe tan except a fake tan from a bottle. The good news is that as we approach summer a bunch of self tan products will hit the shelves and we’ll be trialling them. I’m currently testing a new ModelCo product and will tell you about it soon!

Tamsin xo