Chicago-area dermatologist seeks to educate the public on the dangers of indoor tanning
Take the "No Tan Pledge"
With more than two million people being diagnosed with skin cancer annually and one in five Americans developing skin cancer in their lifetime, Dr. Amy Forman Taub (www.advdermatology.com), board-certified dermatologist, founder of Advanced Dermatology in Lincolnshire, IL and assistant clinical professor at Northwestern University is setting out to lower those numbers. She’s on a mission to educate the public on the healthy habits of caring for their skin and educating them on how to reduce their risk of skin cancer. One big step forward? Stop tanning.
This year, Dr. Taub and her team at Advanced Dermatology are again asking the public to take a “no tanning pledge.” Advanced Dermatology will travel throughout Cook County to collect signatures. Their goal is to collect 10,000 pledges from people making the promise that they won’t tan.
Why? Indoor tanning is associated with melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and damage to eyes and symptoms of premature skin aging, like wrinkles and sun-spots.
She will also travel to area high schools and aim her message at teens, who are still visiting tanning salons at alarming rates. 2.3 million teens visit them at least once a year. And while teen’s skin is more susceptible to damage from harmful UV rays, 80 percent of people 25 and younger said that they think they look better with a tan, according to a survey by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).
The price of getting a little tan is high, research shows. In a 2010 study, people who tanned indoors had a 74 percent increased risk of melanoma compared to those who never tan indoors. And occasional visits can be harmful too: the risk of melanoma increases by 11 percent with just four visits per year.
People taking the “no tanning pledge” promise to stop using tanning beds or intentionally tanning outdoors. They also agree to protect their skin with sunscreen and care for their skin with visits to their dermatologist.
“The dangers of tanning are very real and I see people in my practice being diagnosed with skin cancer, even young people under the age of 20. We’re aiming to help everyone find the beauty in their natural skin color and not risk their health by tanning,” says Dr. Taub. “It is the most effective way to reduce the risk of skin cancer.”
As spring break approaches, Dr. Taub urges people to tan the healthy way: with sunless tanning. It gives skin the glow they desire without the harmful UV ray exposure. Dr. Taub recommends St. Tropez Self Tanning Bronzing Spray, St. Tropez Bronzing Mousse, Dermaquest DermaGlow Self Tanner for Body and Dermaquest DermaGlow Self Tanner for Face, all available at her Skinfo Specialty Skincare Boutique (www.skinfo.com).
Interested? Sign the pledge at your next visit to Advanced Dermatology or Skinfo Specialty Skincare Boutique or sign up online at www.advdermatology.com and www.skinfo.com. Then, bring in your no tanning pledge card into Skinfo Specialty Skincare Boutique to enjoy 10% off the purchase of sunscreen, good for four times a year.
Advanced Dermatology and Skinfo Specialty Skincare Boutique is located at 275 Parkway Drive, Suite 521 in Lincolnshire, IL. Call 847-459-2800 for details.
