What is public health? Wanna find out? Students in the USF Intro to Public Health class have chosen strategic areas in the Tampa Bay community that they feel represent public health in action. This blog is dedicated to explaining, understanding, and discussing what their interpretations of exactly what the heck is.... public health?!



Wednesday, September 14, 2011

To tan or not to tan? That is the question!



We all know how popular tanning is. Nearly 30 million people tan each year in the U.S. With shows like Jersey Shore that promote tanning to be a hot style, and furthermore, advertise the option of tanning beds, tanning has become a phenomena in our younger generation. Millions of Americans make tanning a priority in their life just to get that “sun kissed” look. We chose tanning beds as our source for “This is Public Health” because people need to be informed and educated on the short and long term effects using a tanning bed can cause. We need to prevent all the harm that is caused by these salons. We chose to place our public health sticker on a tanning bed at 40Fifty Lofts, a popular apartment complex that houses college students. Young adults and college student tends to be the target population to educate on tanning beds and salons. The population of these individuals are growing where now it slowly not only being young adults but teenagers as well.
There are many potential health risks associated with tanning. Although it may make you look and feel beautiful, there are long term affects that you may not be aware of. There’s a belief that indoor tanning is “safer” and does not damage the skin which leads to a more frequent use of these tanning beds. Unfortunately this is not the case. Indoor tanning involves the use of light bulbs which produces ultraviolet rays which can damage skin cells causing premature wrinkles and age spots. One can always look and feel beautiful without harming themselves. There are other options such as sunbathing naturally but with a high UV protection sunblock to still get some rich color and be safe.

27 comments:

  1. This is my favorite public health issue and I am mad at myself for not thinking of it! I am guilty of using the tanning beds often and although I have fair skin and know it isn't good for me, I continue to use them. I also have one in my apartment complex and since its free, I use it more and more. They need to be banned everywhere and we should only have spray tans.

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    1. Start with banning the sun. Don't be a sheepeople. Tanning has several health benefits. You may have to dig it up but if you want to know the real truth you should look for it. By the way the cosmetics industry were the ones that started this witch hunt. Seek the truth!

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  2. Tanning beds have been reported to be the number one way of getting skin cancer now a day. That statistic alone is enough to hopefully make a difference in making a decision to tan for individuals. Your group chose a perfect Public Health issue to attack and hopefully your blog can make a difference in our class at least.

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  3. I think this was a great example of something more people should be aware of concerning public health. I think you were very accurate in saying that popular culture such as Jersey Shore is influencing younger people to partake in such a risky activity. I do fear that if people are not more educated on the negative side effects of tanning beds, that many people will become affected by skin cancers. Great choice for a blog on Public health. Hopefully this will open some eyes on the subject.

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  4. Great choice on the tanning beds. Most off campus housing around USF provide these free tanning beds due to popularity among college students and they really shouldn't. It would be a great idea to post the This Is Public Health stickers in all the places that offer the free tanning beds or atleast place a warning with risks of using these tanning beds so frequently as many people don't really think about them.

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  6. Excellent selection! I was surprised to see that many of the apartment complexes advertised to students use tanning beds to lure in students. If tanning beds are such a hazard why aren't other options offered such as free spray tans. There should really be a campaign against tanning beds that display the hazards that come along with it. If more people were to spray tan than going to tanning beds or sun bathing it could reduce their exposure to those health hazards that would lead to diseases such as cancer.

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  7. I believe this is a great option for a public health sticker. Many college students as well as various people in the world do not realize the harmful effects of tanning beds. People are exposed everyday to ads portraying beauty. Many of these ads often refer to being tan as a good thing, and this leads people to want that beautiful,crisp tan skin tone. They sometimes do not think about the harmful effects tanning beds can have. I personally know people who have suffered skin cancer from overusing tanning beds. This issue goes overlooked so easily. By bringing awareness through a public health blog, is a great beginning to spreading the word.

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  8. This is a really great example of a modern day public health issue. Being tan is very stylish these days. It amazes me that even though tanning beds have been linked to skin cancer, more and more girls continue to use tanning beds on a regular basis. I've always had fair skin and I admit I have subconsciously battled with myself on whether or not to use a tanning bed. Every time I weigh the pros and cons all the bad side effects that come with a temporary tan always keeps me away from the tanning salons.

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  9. I think this is a great example of public health! I used to go to tanning beds when I was younger before we were alerted how harmful they can be. I was literally laying on and surrounded by light bulbs which is obviously not healthy for your skin. I am glad you did this blog because with the shows such as Jersey Shore as you mentioned a lot of girls and guys get artificially tan a lot more frequently.

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  10. I think this was a great place for a public health sticker. Tanning beds are highly promoted by apartment complexes, but the negative affects of tanning are always left out. I personally am from New Jersey, and tanning has been a popular thing for many years now. Although I did go tanning on a daily basis, I finally realized the long term affects and stopped. Sharing this blog will hopefully broaden the public health aspect of tanning and make a difference in the community.

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  11. This is a great Public Health example! It is really scary to think that for many of us going to a tanning bed has become second nature, like cleaning up (brushing your teeth etc). There definitely needs to be much more awareness in regards to the harm that tanning beds can cause to our health. It is sad to see that for many individuals it becomes so much more about their appearance for a short-term period rather than their health which can be shortened by the use of them or elongated by possibly seizing to use them.

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  13. I was born and raised in an island and we rarely used tanning beds. When I moved to Florida, I started realizing if you didn't get tanned then you don't look good! The tanning trend has increased thanks to reality t.v. shows that focuses on how to look amazing without measuring any health consequences. It is sad because this demonstrates how television influences people when it's time to make a decision. People think that tanning beds are the only solution to have an even skin when there's another option. We have the natural tanning creams that even though it will take longer to work it, won't expose you to uv rays that cause skin cancer. The population needs to be informed about other tanning options so they can make a smart decision and start taking care of their skin.

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  14. I am so glad a group did their project on this! I didn't even think of this as public health! I started using tanning beds when I was in the seventh grade and now I am totally against them. They are addicting because even after hearing all the negative things about cooking myself, I still had the "I don't care attitude." In the end, when you are older, if you stop now or don't start at all, you will look a lot younger, be a lot healthier, and save a whole lot of money!

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  15. I was a victim of indoor tanning my freshman year of college. I felt the need to be tan because it 'looked better'. When my aunt was diagnosed with skin cancer, I really started weighing the pros and cons of indoor tanning. After seeing what she went through, I quickly realized how unsafe it actually is, despite what tanning salons tell you. After seeing the effects of skin cancer, I believe that the younger generation should not 'fake n bake' and get a spray tan if they want to be tan that bad.

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  16. I feel like tanning beds are defineltly relative to public health. People who use them surely put themselves at risk of harmful UV rays that can lead to skin cancer. Personally, im against tanning beds. I feel that if a person wants some color to them go outside! It`s free and natural!

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  17. I think this is a great idea! I live at the apartment complex next to 4050 and we use their facilities often, and the possibility of skin cancer has always frightened me too much to use one of these beds. I think its even more interesting, from an economic standpoint that a largely college student complex chose to facilitate a tanning bed. Very smart choice economically, but perhaps all these kids using this bed may have health problems down the road? Beauty vs. Health?

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  18. I think the issue of tanning beds is very current right now, especially when you live in florida. Alot of people are addcited to tanning, I am one of them. I think the biggest tanning sales are during the winter months and the prom seasons. I feel tanning once in a while isnt awful. But there are those who tan every day and those are the dangerous ones. There should be more information posted on tanning beds on the harshness it produces

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  19. I interned at a Dermatologist office and I cant tell you how many people who have skin cancer have used tanning beds before. Its a huge problem and people do not take it seriously. Besides for skin cancer, tanning can cause premature aging. But since this is not an instant affect, people ignore it. People seem to only think in the moment when it comes to tanning beds. They also have the mind set of "it will never happen to me."The fact that tanning beds are used to bring in college students to apartment complex's is very appalling. They are promoting an unhealthy lifestyle. This is a great post about public health. The less tanning beds promoted in college apartments or even in general will greatly affect the skin cancer statistics. Remember to always wear sunscreen no matter what your skin tone is!

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  20. What is impressive for me in the blogpost you have shared with us is the title which seems to be interesting and impressive though.

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  21. This is Public Health” because humans charge to be abreast and accomplished on the abbreviate and continued appellation furnishings application a tanning bed can cause.

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  22. If you're going to ask me, I'd rather not. Using those tanning bed may possibly inflict chances for you to develop cancer in the future.

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  23. Children......please know your FACTS before spouting off!! We have a bigger (no pun intended) problem with people being over weight and drinking too much!! Too much of anything is bad for you. Moderate your drinking, moderate your eating, and moderate your tanning. Jeesh!!
    Check out tanningtruth.com for the other side of this argument. Peace.

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  24. I agree! Everything that is too much is really BAD. How come they are very conscious on their physical appearances, tanning is not really advisable they should realize it now.

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