Tanning Beds
For the past 20 years, tanning beds have become increasingly popular as a leisure activity. Many people who frequent tanning bed establishments enjoy the uniform tan, the chance to relax, and the quiet and warmth of the tanning bed. When it's a rainy day or it's too cold to lay outside, tanning beds allow you to continue working on your tan. By the time swimsuit season rolls around, you already have the bronzed look of someone who spent all summer in the sun.
These are the many advantages of tanning that people enjoy, and these are often the selling points that tanning bed establishments focus on. Before you begin regularly tanning, however, you may want to consider the health concerns that qualified physicians, health organizations, and others have raised about tanning bed use.
UV Light and Skin Cancer
It has long been known that ultraviolet (UV) light, one of the types of radiation emitted by the sun, is harmful to our skin.
World Health Organization Report
In July 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) elevated tanning beds to the top health risk category, the same category that contains mustard gas and arsenic, because 20 recent studies show a strong connection between increased tanning bed use and rates of skin cancer. According to the studies reported by the WHO, the skin cancer risk among young women who begin to use tanning beds before age 30 is 75% higher than young women who do not use tanning beds.
Diagnosed with Skin Cancer?
If you have regularly used a tanning bed and have been diagnosed with skin cancer, you may feel that you were duped or were not properly informed of the risks of tanning. Some tanning bed establishments still claim that their beds pose little to no health risks. A company that did not properly warn you of the possible health risks of tanning may be held legally accountable.
Consider contacting a personal injury attorney to discuss the details of your case. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you obtain medical and other expert testimony to hold a negligent tanning bed establishment accountable for your illness. For more information on skin cancer liability and tanning beds, please visit the website of experienced Racine personal injury attorneys Habush, Habush & Rottier, S.C. here.