Tanning - Dangers of Too Much Sun : Part 2

by Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

(Page 2 of 2)

How to Protect Yourself

Regardless of your skin color, if you're going to be out in the sun, even for a short time, apply a sunscreen to all skin that will be exposed. Apply the sunscreen generously before going into the sun and reapply it often.

FDA regulates sunscreens as over-the-counter drugs. When used correctly, sunscreens can block UV rays and reduce the chances of serious burns. Read the label of the product to find out whether it blocks UVB or UVA rays or both. Products that block both types of rays are labeled "broad spectrum" sunscreens. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using such products.

Formulated as a solution, lotion, or cream, sunscreens are rated by sun protection factor (SPF). An SPF of 6, for example, means that you can stay in the sun six times longer before burning than if you were wearing no sunscreen. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests that everyone use a product with at least an SPF 15.

In 1993, FDA proposed requiring:

• an upper limit of SPF 30, which should provide enough protection for even the fairest skins
• a warning on tanning products containing no sunscreen stating that the product does not protect against sunburn
• statements on all sunscreen and suntan products about the sun's potential harm and the ability of the product to protect users.

UV radiation from the sun can also damage your eyes, particularly if you are often out in the sun at midday. You should wear sunglasses when on the beach, on the snow, and all the time when outdoors in the tropics or subtropics, or in high altitudes.

When buying sunglasses, look at the labeling to help you make the right selection. Most sunglass manufacturers label sunglasses according to standards established by the American National Standards Institute in New York. There are three categories:

• cosmetic use glasses — block at least 70 percent UVB, 60 percent UVA
• general use glasses — block at least 95 percent UVB, 60 percent UVA
• special purpose glasses for intense sunlight — block at least 99 percent UVB, 98 percent UVA.

Polarized glasses cut down on sun glare but do not necessarily block UV.

Sunlamps

The rays from tanning lamps and larger devices used in "tanning parlors" are no safer than natural sunlight.

Hurwitz says that some device manufacturers and tanning parlor owners tell clientele that their devices use UVA rays, the so-called "tanning rays," but not UVB, or "burning rays."

"We now know that UVA rays do damage and are high intensity," Hurwitz says. Many parlors use UVB rays in combination with UVA, which gives people more color. But, once they do get the color, it only lasts for a few days so they often go back for repeated treatments, which is not healthy for the skin.

Lorraine H. Kligman, Ph.D., of the University of Pennsylvania medical school notes that research shows people who use tanning devices often show signs of suppressed immunity.

Examples of suppressed immunity are more colds or outbreaks of oral herpes (also called cold sores).

Also, faulty timing devices may allow people to get more UV exposure than expected. People who don't wear goggles may suffer eye damage from the long wavelengths that penetrate eyelids, she adds. Closing your eyes does not help.

FDA regulates tanning devices as radiological devices and requires, among other things, that tanning parlor operators give users goggles and that tanning device products bear a warning label that states "Danger — Ultraviolet radiation." FDA also requires manufacturers to provide operators with operation manuals containing instructions on proper use and correct bulb replacement.

'Artificial' Tans

There are four different types of products that produce an "artificial" tan without sunlight, according to Stanley Milstein, Ph.D., associate director for cosmetics at FDA's division of colors and cosmetics. They are: bronzers, extenders, tanning pills, and tanning accelerators. Milstein warns that although the products produce a natural-looking tan, they do not protect from UV rays.

Bronzers are color additives that stain the skin without harming it. Some bronzers, for example, are combinations of synthetic certified colors. Others come from natural sources, such as walnut juice. These can be washed off with soap and water.

Extenders are also color additives, but they work through chemical reaction with the proteins of the skin. The only one currently approved by FDA for use in cosmetics intended to add color to the body is called dihydroxyacetone (DHA).

Tanning pills contain carotenoid color additives derived from substances similar to beta-carotene, which gives carrots their orange color. The additives are distributed throughout the body, especially in the skin, making it orange, too. Although FDA has approved certain of these additives for coloring food, at the high levels in tanning pills these products may be harmful. Oral tanning pills containing carotenoid color additives cannot be marketed legally for cosmetic use in coloring the skin.

Tanning accelerators, such as those formulated with tyrosine or tyrosine derivatives, are unapproved new drugs, which must be proven both safe and effective. Promotors claim they contain a substance that, when applied to the skin, will make melanin form faster than normal in sunlight. But, Milstein says, there is little convincing published evidence to show these currently marketed products actually work.

New Attitudes

If you like to keep up with the latest trends, you've probably noticed that the tanned look is slowly fading from fashion. A 1994 survey by the American Academy of Dermatology showed that one-third of all respondents say they never sunbathe and always use a sunscreen when outdoors.

"I think that the young are getting the message," says Shirley Lord, beauty editor of Vogue magazine. "The American Academy of Dermatology has been savvy about its approach in its work with designers and their use of tan models. Our message is: protection, protection, protection."

About the Author

www.fda.gov
FDA is A United States government body that oversees medical devices, including contact lenses, intraocular lenses, excimer lasers and eyedrops. In the US, these products must be approved by the FDA before they can be marketed.