Glowing in White Puts Brides at Risk

Posted: June 6, 2006

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The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) estimates that more than 1 million new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year. Of these cases, more than 111,900 are melanoma, a cancer that claims nearly 8,000 lives annually.

Schlessinger strongly urges brides and bridesmaids to stay out of tanning beds, noting that ultraviolet rays UVA and UVB are very harmful for skin. Schlessinger adds that tanning booths are more harmful than the sun and can cause burns due to forgetful operators.

The AAD and the ACS both urge the public to avoid tanning beds. The AAD adds that the UV light from the sun and tanning beds causes skin cancer and wrinkling. The AAD suggests using a sunless tanning product.

Due to new trends in sunless tanning, brides and bridesmaids alike have a limitless array of options to choose from. If they can not fight the urge to visit the tanning salon, they may be in luck if their tanning salon offers the option of a spray-on tan. Spray-on tanning booths’ main ingredient, DHA, interacts with amino acids in skin cells causing the skin to turn brown.

Similarly, brides-to-be can also pick up an over-the-counter sunless tanning spray, lotion or wipe. Yves Rocher offers a variety of sunless tanning products for Summer 2006 including those specifically designed for the face. The Express Bronze Sunless Tanning Care is a spray that, according to the company, hydrates and smoothes skin in only one hour.