Do you believe the common myth that tanned skin is a sign of good health? In this short video, Dr Angelica Logarta-Scott talks about why the idea of a "healthy tan" is a dangerous misconception that could cost your life.

Did you know?
A systematic review showed that people who use a solarium (or sun bed) before the age of 35 have a 59 per cent greater risk of melanoma than those who do not use solariums!

Do you believe the myth of a "healthy tan"?

Did you know that there is no such thing as a “healthy tan”? Far from being a sign of good health, that summer glow is actually a sign your skin cells are in trauma and trying to protect themselves from more damage!

The sun’s UV radiation damages your skin cells every time you get a tan or sunburn. This damage is irreversible. Over time, your skin begins to show signs of premature ageing such as wrinkles, skin lines, moles, and sun spots.

Exposure to UV radiation also causes skin cancer. Every time you get a tan or a sunburn, you increase your risk of developing the disease which affects around 750,000 Australians every year. Two in three Australians will get skin cancer by the age of 70, and most skin cancers develop in adulthood from exposure to UV radiation as a child. The affects of your tan aren’t always obvious until later in life when the damage is already done.

Once a tan or sunburn has occurred, the best defence against skin cancer is early diagnosis. Regular skin checks can help ensure the disease is caught early when you have the best chance of successful treatment!