WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SUNBEDS

Sunbed radiation can produce adverse health effects, including malignant melanoma, similar to those of natural sunlight, most notably in fair-skinned persistent users.

Who should never use sunbeds?

•children and teenagers under 18 year of age

•people who have very fair skin

•people who burn easily or tan poorly

•people with a lot of freckles or moles

•people who have had skin cancer or have a family history of the disease

•people using medication that could make their skin more sensitive to UV

•people who already have extensive “sunlight” damage

ABOUT SUNBEDS

Sunbeds emit predominantly UVA and some UVB, both of which can damage the DNA in cells of the skin. However, in recent years, lamps of sunbeds have been manufactured that produce higher levels of UVB to mimic the solar spectrum and speed the tanning process. While UVB has well known carcinogenic properties and whose excessive exposure is known to lead to the development of skin cancers, recent scientific studies suggest that high exposures to the longer wavelength UVA could also have an impact on skin cancer occurrence.

As with sun exposure, recent studies indicate a relationship between the use of sunbeds and malignant melanoma as well as non-melanoma skin cancers such as squamous and basal cell carcinomas. Thus, the consequences of regular sunbed use may include disfigurement from removal of skin cancers, early death if the cancer is a malignant melanoma, as well as substantial costs to national health systems for screening, treating and monitoring skin cancer patients.

UV rays from sunbeds

Sunbeds, sunlamps and tanning booths give out the same type of harmful radiation as sunlight:

•UVA rays make up about 95% of sunlight. They can cause your skin to age early, making it look coarse, leathery and wrinkled.

•UVB rays make up about 5% and cause your skin to burn.

A tan is your body’s attempt to protect itself from the damaging effect of UV rays. Getting a tan using a sunbed is not safer than tanning in the sun. In some cases, it may be more harmful, depending on, for example:

•the strength (dose) of UV rays from the sunbed,

•how many times or how often you use a sunbed,

•how long your sessions are,

•what type of skin you have, such as fair or dark, and

•your age.

•the type or strength of UV rays that sunbeds give out, or

•who can use sunbeds.

Damage from UV rays

Prolonged exposure to UV rays increases your risk of developing malignant melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer.

You cannot always see the damage that UV rays cause. The symptoms of skin damage can take up to 20 years to appear.

UV rays can also damage your eyes, by causing problems such as irritation, conjunctivitis or cataracts, particularly if you don’t wear goggles.

Advice about using sunbeds

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued advice on the health risks linked to UV tanning equipment, such as sunbeds, sunlamps and tanning booths. They recommend that you should not use UV tanning equipment if:

•you are under 18,

•you have fair, sensitive skin that burns easily, or tans slowly or poorly,

•you have a history of sunburn, particularly in childhood,

•you have lots of freckles and/or red hair,

•you have lots of moles,

•you are taking medicines or using creams that make your skin sensitive to sunlight,

•you have a medical condition that is made worse by sunlight,

•you have had skin cancer, or someone in your family has had skin cancer, or

•sunlight has already badly damaged your skin.

The HSE advice also includes important points to consider before you decide to use a sunbed. For example, if you do use a sunbed, the operator should advise you on your skin type and on how many minutes you should limit your session to.

For further information contact us on:

011.327.4490

info@somabodytherapy.co.za

www.somabodytherapy.co.za

PREVENTING UV DAMAGE

Adopting simple precautions can make all the difference.

Tips to Save Your Skin

•Apply a broad spectrum sunscreen (which protects against UVA and UVB rays) that carries the CANSA Seal of Recognition (CSOR) – apply daily and reapply throughout the day.

•Buy sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays.  If possible keep the extra pair in your car.

•Install window film that protects against UV rays on your car’s side and back windows.  

•For men apply an after-shave balm, with an SPF of at least 15, after shaving.  If you can’t find one you like, buy a CSOR sunscreen for the face. Don’t forget your ears and all around your neck.

•For women apply a moisturizer with an SPF of at least 15. If you can’t find one you like, buy a separate CSOR sunscreen for the face and apply it before your moisturiser.

•Wear a hat with a brim, not a baseball cap. Wear it when you’re outdoors -especially for men who are balding or thinning on top.

•Use a lip balm with an SPF of 20+ and apply it regularly.   

•Keep a bottle of sunscreen with an SPF of 20 or higher in the glove compartment of your car, reapply the product frequently.

•Ask your barber or hairdresser if he sees any moles or bumps on your scalp, if he or she does, go to a doctor or dermatologist and have them checked out.

•Partners should regularly check one another’s backs for any changes in existing moles or the development of new moles.

Children are at Risk

Children are at a higher risk of suffering UV damage than adults, and therefore require special protection. A short time outdoors in the midday summer sun can result in serious burns – and even a single sunburn in childhood may significantly increase their skin cancer risk. Children love playing outdoors and spend much more time in the sun than the average adult. Estimates suggest that the majority of a person’s lifetime exposure to UV radiation is received before the age of 18.

Think about sun safety all year round – whether you’re at the beach, at a soccer game, or in the garden. 

Ways To Protect Children

•Sunscreen Use a broad spectrum sunscreen (SPF20+) that carries the CANSA Seal of Recognition (CSOR)

•Encourage children’s lotion devotion. Apply sunscreen every day after they’ve brushed their teeth or before they get dressed. They’ll be more likely to make it part of their routine when they’re older.  

•Keep sunscreen and lip balm (SPF 20+) in all your bags—handbags, kids’ sports bags, backpacks, cooler bags.

•Pack sunscreen for your child at preschool or day care and talk to his teacher about reapplying it.

•Remember to cover the ears, nape of the neck, chin, tops of the feet, backs of the hands, hair partings and any sparse spots on the scalp with sunscreen.

•Use more than you think you need. When manufacturers test a sunscreen’s SPF, they’re required to apply a thick layer to skin.  Allow enough time to apply the sunscreen properly.

•Reapply sunscreen every hour especially after swimming 

•Don’t save it for sunny summer days. The sun’s reflective power is strong -17 % on sand and 80 % on snow. Even when it’s cloudy, 80 % of invisible UV rays still hit your child’s skin and they can cause surprisingly bad burns.

•Use your imagination. Tell your child that sunscreen is special “makeup” or “paint,” and write words or letters on her body (and let her do the same to you).

•Let your kids see you putting sunscreen on yourself

•Check the expiration date of your sunscreen.

•Clothing Less UV passes through tightly woven or knitted fabrics, darker colours usually block more UV radiation. Garments that are over-stretched, wet or worn out may lose some of their UV protection properties.

•Hats Children should wear wide brimmed hats that give better protection – not baseball caps

•Seek shade – Remember the shadow rule: Watch your shadow – No shadow, seek shade!

•Explain to your children that too much sun is bad for their skin. Just as you tell them about the dangers   of smoking and the importance of eating healthy foods, talk to them about risks from the sun.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT US ON:

011.327.4490

info@somabodytherapy.co.za

www.somabodytherapy.co.za

WHY THE SUN IS BAD FOR YOU

The truth about a suntan

There is no such thing as a healthy tan! The skin produces a dark-coloured pigment, melanin, as a shield against further damage from UV radiation, it is a sign that your skin has been damaged and has attempted to protect itself.

Sunburn

High doses of UV radiation kill most of the skin cells in the upper skin layer, and cells that are not killed get damaged. In its mildest form, sunburn consists of a reddening of the skin called erythema. This appears shortly after UV radiation exposure and reaches a maximum intensity between 8 and 24 hours. It then fades over the course of a few days. However, a strong sunburn may cause the skin to blister and peel, which is not only painful but also leaves the very white and new skin underneath unprotected and even more prone to UV damage. Chronic exposure to UV radiation also causes a number of degenerative changes in the cells, fibrous tissue and blood vessels of the skin.

DAMAGE SUNBURN CAN COUSE:

Photosensitivity

A small percentage of the population has a skin condition that makes them particularly sensitive to the sun’s UV rays. A minimal dose of UV radiation is sufficient to trigger an allergic reaction leading to rash or severe sunburn.

Photosensitivity is often associated with the use of certain medications, including some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers, tranquillizers, oral anti-diabetics, antibiotics and antidepressants. If you take any medication on a regular basis, please refer to the package insert for the product or consult your health care provider about possible photosensitivity reactions.

Some foods and cosmetic products like fragrances and soaps may also contain ingredients that cause or aggravate the photosensitivity condition.

The wrinkle factor

Sun exposure promotes the ageing of your skin due to a combination of several factors. UVB stimulates cell proliferation in the outer layer of the skin. As more and more cells are produced the epidermis thickens. UVA penetrating into the deeper skin layers disturbs the connective tissue: the skin gradually loses its elasticity – wrinkles, sags and bags are the common result of this loss of elasticity. The sun’s ray also dries out the skin making it coarse and leathery.

Non-melanoma skin cancers

The non-melanoma skin cancers basal and squamous cell carcinoma are not usually fatal but surgical treatment can be painful and result in scars. Non-melanoma skin cancers are most frequent on those parts of the body that are commonly exposed to the sun such as ears, face, neck and forearms.

Basal cell carcinomas are the most common type of skin cancer. Their reported incidence has drastically increased over the past two decades and continues to rise. They usually appear as a red lump or scaly area. They grow slowly, rarely spread to other parts of the body (metastasize) and can be removed surgically.

Squamous cell carcinomas are the second most common form of skin cancer. They appear as a thickened red scaly spot at body sites most often exposed to UV radiation. As they sometimes metastasize they are more dangerous than basal cell carcinomas. However, they also tend to be slow growing and can usually be removed surgically before they become a serious risk.

Malignant Melanoma skin cancers

Malignant melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer and is one of the most common cancers in countries such as Australia and South Africa. All forms of skin cancer have been on the increase over the past twenty years, however, the highest rate of increase worldwide is noted for malignant melanoma.

Malignant melanoma may arise as a new mole or as changes in colour, shape, size in an old spot, freckle or mole. Melanomas tend to have an irregular outline and a patchy colouring. Itching is another

common symptom but is also found in normal moles. If recognised and treated early, the chances of survival are good. If untreated, the tumour can develop rapidly, and cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body.

Malignant melanoma is more common among people with a pale complexion, blue eyes, and red or fair hair but everyone should take precautions to protect their skin from excessive UV exposure.

Check regularly for any mole that grows, changes shape or colour, is inflamed or itchy, weeps or bleeds

UV EFFECTS ON THE EYE

Bright light activates the constriction of the pupil and the squinting reflex to minimize the penetration of the sun’s rays into the eye. The effectiveness of this in protecting against the dangers of UV radiation is limited under extreme conditions such as sunbed use or strong ground reflection from sand, water and snow.

Acute effects of UV radiation exposure include photokeratitis and photoconjunctivitis. These inflammatory reactions are comparable to a sunburn of the very sensitive skin-like tissues of the eyeball and eyelids, and usually appear within a few hours of exposure. Both can be very painful, but are reversible and do not result in any long-term damage to the eye or vision. Extreme forms of photokeratitis are ‘arc-eye’ and ’snow blindness’.

Cataracts

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in the world. Proteins in the eye’s lens unravel, tangle and accumulate pigments that cloud the lens and eventually lead to blindness. Even though cataracts appear to different degrees in most individuals as they age, sun exposure, in particular exposure to UVB, appears to be a major risk factor for cataract development.

Every year some 16 million people in the world suffer from blindness due to a loss of transparency in the lens. WHO estimates suggest that up to 20 per cent of cataracts may be caused by overexposure to UV radiation and are therefore avoidable.

Cancer of the eye

Current scientific evidence suggests that different forms of eye cancer may be associated with life-long exposure to the sun. Malignant Melanoma is the most frequent malignant cancer of the eyeball and sometimes requires surgical removal. A common location for basal cell carcinoma is on the eyelids.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON CARIBBEAN TAN CONTACT US ON:

011.327.4490

info@somabodytherapy.co.za

www.somabodytherapy.co.za

WHY CHOOSE CARIBBEAN TAN?

The ultimate sunless tanning method Caribbean tan has introduced the first truly innovative breakthrough in self tanning over 40 years, and has virtually eliminated the problems associated with sunless tanning. Quick, Easy, Perfect Benefits of Caribbean Tan

Nourish and rejuvenate the skin

Anti-oxidant (contains Green tea)

Anti -ageing

Helps prevent photo damage

Promotes skin elasticity

It is advised to schedule an appointment once a week to maintain a tanned, healthy glow.

Pre and Post Tan Maintenance

Although this type of tanning is relatively quick and easy, there are a number of very important things to do and think about before and after doing your tan.  If you’re interested in doing a Caribbean Tan with us, please contact the office and make an appointment.

BENEFITS OF CARIBBEAN TAN

What is Caribbean Tan:

Caribbean Tan is a sunless tanning product, it is are completely safe to use and in fact is much healthier than the use of sun-beds and direct exposure to the sun.

Caribbean Tan brings you the perfect way to achieve a natural healthy bronzed look. All around the world, tanners are switching off their sun beds, throwing out their self tanning creams, avoiding the harsh sun and converting to Caribbean Tan.

Benefits of Caribbean Tan:

No dirty patches

No streaking

No orange hands

No premature ageing

No UV skin damage

…just a beautiful, seamless all-over body tan in 20 MINUTES.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CARIBBEAN TAN CONTACT US ON:

011.327.4490

info@somabodytherapy.co.za

www.somabodytherapy.co.za

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

What is Caribbean tan?

Caribbean Tan Sunless Tanning is a brand new concept in the application of Sunless Tanning. Our State of the Art Delivery System virtually eliminates all problems associated with Sunless Tanning Creams. No more streaky mess, orange palms, or dirty knees and elbows!

How does Caribbean tan work?

The active ingredient in Caribbean tan products contain active ingredient that have been specially formulated. One active ingredient DHA (Dihydroxyacetone) which is used in most sunless tanning products , when applied to the sun , cause a chemical reactions with the skin to produce a tan much like the sun does, but without UVA and UVB damage to the skin .

How long does it last?

Caribbean Tan lasts between 4 to 10 days, depending on your skin type and how well you maintain it. (client information)

How much does it cost?

1 tanning session = R280

2 tanning session = R460

3 tanning session = R690

4 tanning session = R920

Gift vouchers available

Is it Safe?

Absolutely! All Caribbean Tan ingredients have been through extensive testing and are FDA (Federal Drug Administration) approved.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CARIBBEAN TAN CONTACT US ON:

011.327.4490

info@somabodytherapy.co.za

www.somabodytherapy.co.za

CARIBBEAN TAN from Soma Body Therapy

(011)327-4490

Caribbean Tan is applied by a trained professional or by one’s self using specially formulated home products.

• No dirty patches
• No streaking
• No orange hands
• No premature ageing
• No UV skin damage 

…just a seamless, all-over body tan in 20 MINUTES.

To book your Caribbean Tan please phone us on:

(011)327-4490

info@somabodytherapy.co.za

www.somabodytherapy.co.za