According to the American Cancer Society, sunscreen use by adults and young people has fallen significantly in the last ten years. Only 40 percent of adults regularly use sunscreen. In people under 25, only 34 percent use sunscreen regularly.
In addition to these concerning statistics, the use of tanning salons has tripled for people under 25. Tanning, in general, is becoming more and more popular. Many people believe that indoor tanning is safer than tanning under the sun. But a February 2003 study found that tanning devices doubled the risk of common types of skin cancer. People who used tanning devices were 1.5 times more likely to develop basal cell carcinoma and 2.5 times more likely to develop squamous cell skin cancer.
What causes teens and young adults to ignore the warnings from doctors? Blame the media. According to A.G. Geller, lead author of the study, images of tanned models and celebrities compel many teens to want that sun-kissed look. Since the chance of getting cancer seems 30 or 40 years in the future, most teens ignore the dangers.
What are the best ways to protect your skin? It really is simple. Wear a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen when heading outdoors, and try to avoid sun exposure between the hours of 10:00 am and 4:00 pm.
At Oxford at Estonia Apartments in San Antonio, Texas, nothing is more important to us than your health, happiness, and overall well-being. We offer these informative blogs as a way to enhance your lifestyle beyond the scope of physical features and services we provide in our beautiful and welcoming community.