I11 -- March 2008 -- Tanning Bed Warts and More

Intro: It's that time of year again. When many spring breakers and vacationers hit the tanning beds to get a head start on that bronze glow. But beware. You can catch a lot more in tanning beds than just a few rays. More from Mayo Clinic.

"IF YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT A TANNING BED IS -- ESSENTIALLY YOU'RE LYING NAKED ON A HOT SKILLET AFTER SOMEBODY ELSE JUST LAY NAKED ON THAT HOT SKILLET. [LASER SOUND]

DR. DAWN DAVIS HAS SEEN PLENTY OF INFECTIONS FROM TANNING BEDS. THIS PATIENT CONTRACTED WARTS FROM A TANNING BED THAT WAS NOT PROPERLY CLEANED. SHE'S HAVING LASER TREATMENT TO REMOVE THEM.

"I STARTED OFF WITH 300 WARTS. [ZAP SOUND] FREAKED ME OUT. GROSSED ME OUT." [ZAP]

BUT NOW, FOUR YEARS AND MANY TREATMENTS LATER, THE WARTS ARE ALMOST GONE.

"LAST TIME WAS IT 15? [ZAP] VERY GOOD PROGRESS

WARTS, CAUSED BY THE HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS, OR HPV, ARE JUST ONE OF THE MANY HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH TANNING BED USE.

"IT'S VERY DANGEROUS. I'VE SEEN PEOPLE COME TO MY OFFICE WHO'VE GOTTEN SEVERE BURNS AND SCARRING FROM TANNING BEDS AND LOTS OF INFECTIONS."

RASHES, SKIN ULCERATIONS AND CELLULITIS (A TYPE OF SKIN INFECTION OFTEN CAUSED BY THE STAPHYLOCOCCUS BACTERIA) ARE JUST A FEW. UVA AND UVB RAYS CAN ALSO CAUSE CATARACTS AND DAMAGE YOUR RETINA.

"THE OTHER THING I LIKE TO WARN AGAINST TANNING BEDS IS THAT YOU INCREASE YOUR RISK FOR MELANOMA APPROXIMATELY EIGHT TIMES OVER YOUR LIFETIME."

SO BEFORE YOU STRETCH OUT ON A TANNING BED CONSIDER THE RISKS.

FOR MEDICAL EDGE, I'M VIVIEN WILLIAMS.

Anchor tag: Dr. Davis says if you absolutely have to get tan, use sunless tanners or go to a salon and get sprayed.
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