Dermatologists and oncologists warn that extensive sun exposure can lead to skin cancer. Not even sunscreen can prevent it.
Ultraviolet radiation from the sun is the No. 1 cause of skin cancer, but UV light from tanning beds is just as harmful, experts say. Exposure to sunlight during the winter months puts people at the same risk as exposure during the summertime, too.
Several instances of sun exposure causes primarily basal cell and squamous cell skin cancer, while episodes of severe blistering sunburns, usually before age 18, can cause melanoma to develop later in life.
Many people have decided that sunless tanning is the safest way to sport that sun-kissed glow without putting oneself at risk of skin cancer.
Sunless tanning products are typically sold as lotions, creams and sprays you apply to your skin. Professional spray-on tanning also is an option. According to the Mayo Clinic, the active ingredient in most sunless tanning products is the color additive dihydroxyacetone.
When applied, dihydroxyacetone reacts with dead cells in the skin’s surface layer to temporarily darken the skin and simulate a tan.
Many females opt to get spray tans or use the self-tanners before important events such as prom or a wedding. Mom Keziah Jozefiak learned the hard way that it’s important to let a tanning product dry before engaging in activities, such as nursing a baby…
Keziah began appyling tanning foam while five-month-old Rafael was asleep. But he awoke hungry and fussy before the foam had dried.
While nursing, Keziah looked down and became alarmed when she saw brown smudges on her son’s cheeks. She pulled him off and saw the brown discoloring was all around his mouth.
Then it dawned on her!
“Someone please remind me to wash my tan off before feeding Raf please.”
She admitted on social media that she “burst into laughter” when she realized what had happened. She likened her son’s new look to Homer Simpson.
Some expressed concern on her Twitter account about the chemicals the baby might have consumed while nursing. The FDA states that DHA shouldn’t be inhaled or applied to areas covered by mucous membranes, including the lips, nose or areas around the eyes because the risks of doing so are unknown.
But Keziah assured Twitter that her baby was fine.
“[I] can confirm he is OK, and it hasn’t stained his face. Don’t report me. Rafael is fine. It’s literally like licking a piece of chocolate off your hand after you tanned. He’s not downing my whole bottle of tan. I appreciate all your concern though. :)”
It took Keziah at least an hour to remove the tanning product from Rafael’s face by using baby oil and baby wipes. She also shared a newer photo of her son without the tan smeared across his face. The young mom told The Sun she’s learned her lesson, however.
“It is the first and definitely last time I feed him with my tan still on. It hadn’t actually occurred to me that the tan could transfer onto him.”
Have you done something similarly silly during your parenthood journey?
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