2008 Woodie Awards
Students concerned about environment
Skin cancer threatens tanners - 'Mile High City' at high risk due to greater UV exposure, outdoor life
Kat Blasco
Issue date: 5/22/07 Section: Editorials
Now that spring has arrived on the University of Denver campus, it almost impossible to step outside between midday classes and not see people lounging around, on the grass near Cherrington and Sturm, taking full advantage of the hot May sun. Many of these people - at least, those not fortunate enough to have vacationed in a tropical location over spring break - are baking themselves like a glazed ham in order to score the perfect summer tan.
However, as May is National Skin Cancer Awareness Month, it seems only appropriate to mention that this summertime roasting ritual is not the healthiest of activities.
Okay, okay, you've heard this before: tanning is bad for you, put on sunscreen, wear comically large Kentucky Derby-style hats, et cetera. But when you go to school in Denver, this advice is more important than you might think; at an altitude of 5,280 feet above sea level (that's a whole mile, for you non-natives), Denver gets much more UV exposure than most other cities. Pair that fact with Colorado's famed 300 days of sunlight per year, and you have a greater cause for concern when it comes to skin cancer at DU.
In fact, in 2004, a report from the Colorado Department of Public Health said that in Colorado, the odds of developing melanoma were 38 percent greater in men and 46 percent greater in women than the national average. These disturbing statistics make sense, given Colorado's climate and the state's reputation as a hub for a myriad of outdoor sports.
What may be even more disturbing is a recent study published in the March 2007 Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology that suggests tanning could be an addictive behavior. Colleges are full of tanning junkies looking for a fix, whether outdoors or in a tanning bed.
So, are you one of these bronzing addicts, scoring your next hit of UVB every chance you get? Although tanning is, of course, a personal choice, if melanoma isn't your cup of tea, here are the best things you can do to protect your skin this summer. And yes, you've heard this before.
However, as May is National Skin Cancer Awareness Month, it seems only appropriate to mention that this summertime roasting ritual is not the healthiest of activities.
Okay, okay, you've heard this before: tanning is bad for you, put on sunscreen, wear comically large Kentucky Derby-style hats, et cetera. But when you go to school in Denver, this advice is more important than you might think; at an altitude of 5,280 feet above sea level (that's a whole mile, for you non-natives), Denver gets much more UV exposure than most other cities. Pair that fact with Colorado's famed 300 days of sunlight per year, and you have a greater cause for concern when it comes to skin cancer at DU.
In fact, in 2004, a report from the Colorado Department of Public Health said that in Colorado, the odds of developing melanoma were 38 percent greater in men and 46 percent greater in women than the national average. These disturbing statistics make sense, given Colorado's climate and the state's reputation as a hub for a myriad of outdoor sports.
What may be even more disturbing is a recent study published in the March 2007 Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology that suggests tanning could be an addictive behavior. Colleges are full of tanning junkies looking for a fix, whether outdoors or in a tanning bed.
So, are you one of these bronzing addicts, scoring your next hit of UVB every chance you get? Although tanning is, of course, a personal choice, if melanoma isn't your cup of tea, here are the best things you can do to protect your skin this summer. And yes, you've heard this before.
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