The supposed “healthy glow” of tan skin has been popular among Caucasian sun worshippers since the early 20th century. From "Man Tan" to spray tans to tanning beds, a bronzed body made life better, or so Western popular culture claimed. Now we know that exposure to UVA and UVB radiation causes cancer, and that indoor tanning is especially risky. It's so dangerous, in fact, that some countries, including Australia, have banned commercial tanning salons. The 2016 ban, however, has led to something of a black market, with some Aussies illegally selling time in tanning beds kept in private homes and backyards.
The high cost of looking tan:
- Before the ban, exposure to UV radiation in tanning beds was blamed for 43 melanoma-related deaths and 2,572 new cases of squamous cell carcinoma per year in Australia.
- Besides being a leading cause of skin cancer, excessive UV radiation is also associated with infections, a weakened immune system, and eye damage, including cataracts and eye cancer.
- The tanning industry says that the majority of people who tan indoors are women, between 16 and 25 years old, who are hoping to improve their appearance or mood, or get a pre-holiday tan.