5 Basic Skin Facts You Should Know
Your skin is the largest organ in your body and is constantly under attack from various environmental toxins. UV light from the sun, pollution, and chemicals in our water can all harm it. Here are some key skin facts and tips on how to protect it.
Indoor Tanning Increases Cancer Risk
If you think indoor tanning is dangerous, you’re right. There’s a growing body of evidence suggesting it can cause cancer. Studies show that tanning beds may be responsible for up to 400,000 cases of skin cancer in the United States each year. Factors like high doses of UV light from tanning and the age at which you start can significantly increase your risk. The World Health Organization (WHO) found that indoor tanning before age 30 is associated with a 75% increase in the risk of melanoma. Even the FDA now recognizes tanning beds as harmful, especially for kids and young adults. Despite this, over half of the nation’s top colleges still offer tanning beds on or off-campus, which is rather worrying.
It Might Be Best to Avoid Tattoos
You might want to reconsider getting that tattoo—not because it will upset your mother, but because of the potential toxins in the dyes. Recent reports from New Zealand have found high levels of arsenic and lead in some imported tattoo inks. Even if you opt for a temporary tattoo, be cautious of “black henna” as it contains p-phenylenediamine (PPD), which can cause severe allergic reactions such as redness, blisters, oozing lesions, increased sensitivity to sunlight, and permanent scarring. Given these risks, it might be best to avoid tattoos altogether.
Smoking and the City Are Terrible for Your Skin
Did you know that smoking can drastically age your skin? A study involving 79 photos of identical twins in their forties found that 57% of the time, the twin who smoked was identified as looking older. Non-smoking twins were also less likely to have wrinkles around their lips. Living in the city isn’t great for your skin either due to air pollution. Most cities have air pollution containing up to 200 harmful chemicals that age your skin.
Sunblock Isn’t Total Protection
We often wear sunblock to protect against UV radiation, but recent reports suggest it might not be enough. While an SPF of 50 can reduce cancer risk, it won’t eliminate it. This underscores the importance of ensuring proper sun protection. To make matters worse, some sunscreens contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can affect hormones and male fertility.
Your Skin Can Absorb BPA and Other Chemicals
Your skin has the ability to absorb many substances, including toxins like BPA. Receipts printed on thermal paper and the powder used to develop the dyes usually contain BPA. Handling these receipts can lead to elevated levels of BPA in your body. The risk is even higher when using hand sanitizer; touching thermal paper after using hand sanitizer can increase BPA absorption drastically.
Further Actions
Given all these risks, what can you do? Being proactive is key, and technology offers some helpful tools. For example, leveraging our current selfie craze, a scientist has developed a polarized lens that you can attach to your phone to detect skin cancer. Would you consider using such a gadget?
By understanding these skin facts and taking the right precautions, you can better protect your skin from these everyday risks.