The Dark Side of Tanning

Tanning is when your skin gets brown from being in the sun. In the US, if you are tan, people often think that you look healthy. Is tanning popular in your country?

Australia is famous for sunny outdoor activities like scuba diving, surfing, and barbecues but skin cancer is a growing concern. Here is a public announcement warning of the danger.

1. "Tanning is skin cells in trauma". What do you think trauma means?

2. Why doesn't cutting the cancer out always solve the problem?

Click below to study the words in the transcript and check your answers.

Double click on any word to see the meaning.



Tanning is skin cells in trauma trying to protect themselves from cancer but one damaged cell can start a melonoma growing. And just one milimetre deep it can get into your bloodstream and spread. So even if a melonoma is cut out the cancer can reappear months or years later, often in your lung, liver, or brain. And you haven't even started to burn yet.

Answers:
1. "Tanning is skin cells in trauma. What do you think trauma means?
Trauma is an injury or damage to something in your body.

2. Why doesn't cutting the cancer out always solve the problem?
It can travel in your blood and affect another part of the body.