Editorial: Tanning should be banned

As prom season is coming up, many teenagers follow in their friend’s footsteps with purchasing a weekly package to tan their skin. Many young women and men do this without knowing any sort of information that could turn their entire decision upside down.

A very commonly diagnosed skin cancer among bed-tanning people is Melanoma, in which one out of eight diagnosed dies. Melanoma symptoms include a wide variety of moles.

According to the National Cancer Institute, the estimated melanoma cases in 2015 are about 73,870 diagnosed and about 9,940 dead.

There are many other risks besides cancer. One risk is premature aging. Tanning causes the skin to lose elasticity and wrinkle prematurely. The leathery look may not show up until many years after you’ve had a tan.

Other risks are eye damage and immune suppression. Exposure to UV radiation can cause irreversible damage to the eyes. UV-B radiation may suppress proper functioning of the body’s immune system and the skin’s natural defenses, leaving you more vulnerable to diseases.

Ban the tan and make your skin happy!