World Cancer Day: Tanning Beds B.A.D.
On this World Cancer Day, we interrupt our Valentine's Day programming to remind you to spread the word that using tanning beds is B.A.D. Remember, it's now official: tanning beds are in the highest-cancer-risk category according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
It's that time of year when pasty-white folks book sunny beach vacations, and start the trip off with a few tanning-bed sessions beforehand to "create a base." Create a base of skin cancer maybe? Because, in addition to the highest-cancer-risk thing, according to the Canadian Dermatology Association, dumbass idots who think a tan can protect them have more skin damage coming: "at most, a tan is the equivalent to a sunscreen with SPF of just 2 to 4. Not enough to keep you safe in the sun."
If you know someone heading for sunny shores, show your love with bottles (note plural -- one is not enough for a week on a beach) of paraben-free SPF protection, preferably without Oxybenzone (studies indicate it has hormone-disruptor tendencies). A good alternative to the standard stuff out there is paraben-free Cliniderm Gentle Protective Lotion SPF 45 ($29), which contains micronized natural sunscreen ingredients titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.
Cliniderm Gentle Protective Lotion SPF 45 is available at Shoppers Drug Mart; cliniderm.ca for info.
