Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
With the holiday season over, many people begin to look forward to spring- the sunshine, warm weather and a nice, golden tan. So, off to the tanning parlor they go. Dermatologists at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas say that's not a good idea.
Any form of ultraviolet radiation, whether from the sun or a tanning bed, is bad for your skin. It can cause premature aging and skin cancer. The amount of exposure needed to produce a tan is enough to cause damage to the DNA in skin cells, which can lead to potentially deadly cancers like melanoma.
If you need to perk yourself up right now and a golden glow will do the trick, try a self-tanning cream or bronzing powder. Don't forget the sunscreen when you go outdoors.
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Jan. 2005
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