Warnings that indoor tanning significantly elevates the risk of skin cancer—particularly, melanoma—are being ignored, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which recently released the findings of a survey on the use of tanning beds, booths or sun lamps.
Professional cosmetologists—such as those who have, for instance, a Kentucky Cosme CE—are apprised of the health issues associated with certain substances, tools, and procedures, including tanning, in cosmetology class. Unfortunately, tanning warnings are being ignored.
The survey found that among young (ages 18 to 21) white women, some 32 percent said they had tanned indoors in the previous year. The figure is much higher than the national average for adults of all ages of 6 percent. The survey also said women in their 20s reported tanning indoors at least 20 times in the previous year, on average.
In a landmark decision in 2009, the World Health Organization classified tanning devices as carcinogenic in the strength of studies that found a 75-percent increase in the risk of melanoma in people who began indoor tanning before they were 30.
"It's not a question of whether tanning beds cause cancer anymore. We've been able to prove that," emphasized Dr. Jerry Brewer, a Mayo Clinic dermatologist and researcher, in an Associated Press interview.
Indoor tanning became popular about 30 years ago. Today, close to 22,000 tanning salons across the country cater to 28 million customers, according to industry research firm IBISWorld. Meanwhile, this Mother’s Day, beauty salons in some parts of the U.S. are joining the fight to stamp out breast cancer.
In the Chicago area, for instance, a "Mammograms for Mother's Day" initiative will have nurses from Loyola University Medical Center and Loretto Hospital joining Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford and the senator’s 4th District Gentlemen's Committee visit 16 beauty salons. Two teams will drop by beauty salons in Austin, Bellwood, Berwyn, Broadview, Forest Park, Oak Park, Westchester and other communities in Lightford's 4th District.
Nurse educators and some members of the 4th District Gentlemen's Committee will talk on the importance of regular breast exams and mammograms to cancer detection and prevention and will distribute educational materials to promote breast-cancer awareness among salon workers in hopes that they will help spread the word to their clients.
A study appearing in the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved reported that hair salons "are a potentially important venue for promotion of health behaviors related to breast cancer detection."
"Beauty salons are great places to get the word out about breast-cancer prevention and the critical need for early detection," stressed Sen. Lightford, adding that in helping propagate messages that can save lives, men (referring to 4th District Gentlemen's Committee) are "showing their love and concern for the women of our community."
In return, according to Sen. Lightford’s office, on the day before Father's Day, women from the 4th District will visit barbershops to talk on and promote prostate-cancer screenings and early detection. Loretto and Loyola nurses will likewise accompany the visiting team.
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