health
JAYPLAY = 10.04.2007
goodforyou/badforyou
TANNING BEDS
Fall is just around the corner, which means people will begin heading out of the sun and into tanning beds. But according to Lawrence dermatologist Lee Bittenbender, it's a better idea to skip the tanning session of your salon trip.
"If your skin is tanned, it's damaged," he says. "Your skin can't tell the difference between sunlight and lights in a tanning bed."
The sun emits both UVA and UVB rays, a tanning bed only emits UVA rays. Unfortunately, says Bittenbenden, UVA rays penetrate the skin much deeper than UVB.
"Some adverse effects of tanning are premature ageing of the skin and development of unwanted pigment, he says." There's also a whole group of skin diseases affected by UV lights."
One condition is melasma, which is characterized by blotchy brown pigment in the face brought on by UV rays, and is particularly common in women taking birth control pills.
Bittenbender stresses that while students may want to look nice and tan now, the long-term effects will not be worth it.
"When you're in college, you feel immortal," he says, "but in time you'll start asking 'Where did that brown spot come from?' or 'Where did those wrinkles come from?'"
If you fear you can't get that golden tone, though, don't worry. Bittenbender says that artificial tans such as sprays and store-bought "tans in a tube" are a perfectly safe alternative.
Jared Duncan
VERDICT: Bad for you
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■health tip■
A ROSY REMEDY
If shaving leaves you with bumps, ingrown hairs or razor burn, try spritzing on rose water post-shave to naturally soothe and nourish your skin. "Rose water helps pull the skin together and helps cells to regenerate," says Tenanche Rose Golden, author of the book Rose Flower Essences. Golden says rose water is packed with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory elements that keep hair follicles from flaring up, and can even ease more unpleasant skin conditions like chicken pox. Jodi Hutchinson, founder of the skin care line Darshan Beauty, says rose water is more effective than standard body lotions at relieving irritation caused by shaving because it actually absorbs into skin
cells. "With some products, the molecules are too big to really get in and soothe skin on the cellular level," Hutchinson says. "Rose water is highly water-soluble, so it really gets inside you and makes a difference." To treat your skin to some rose therapy, try Home Health Rose Water Body & Perfume Splash, $5 at www.livelifetorganic.com. Fall break may be one of your last opportunities to dan shorts and a tank before cold weather arrives, so enjoy it by making sure your skin looks and feels its best.
Megan Hirt