The truth about tanning bed safety
Most people know the dangers of sun bathing and being exposed to the harmful rays of the sun, but many people either ignore these dangers in order to get a tan, or think that visiting a tanning bed is going to be safer. What is the truth?
The truth is that since 1980 there has been a fifty percent increase in melanoma cases in women under the age of 39. Most experts believe that tanning, and more specifically, tanning beds, are the reason for this large increase. The fact is that the UVA rays emitted from Ultraviolet A light sources in a tanning bed are two to three times more powerful than the UVA rays which occur naturally from the sun. So, the truth is that tanning bed lights are far more dangerous than the natural tanning of the sun. They lead to skin cancer, and can cause other harmful effects.
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Most tanning beds cause damaging changes to your skin. Many people who choose to use tanning beds feel like this is simply the cost of having that golden glow we call a tan. Most people feel that in order to have the tan, they have to have the burns, damage, and more. The more is the part they need to consider more carefully. While burns can hurt for a few days, and peeling is ugly for a while, it does go away. However, the effects of too much UVA exposure can lead to eye damage, immune system changes, cataracts, wrinkles and premature aging of the skin, and skin cancers. Remember, these effects are two to three times worse if you use tanning beds instead of natural sun tanning.
Is a damaged immune system worth a tan? This means you will be sick far more often, will not fight disease as well, and will likely die at an earlier age.
Is eye damage and cataracts worth getting a tan? You might look good, but if you can't see yourself in the mirror, what good is it going to do. Yes, tanning salons recommend you wear eye protection, but few people do. They do not want to get the little line across the bridge of their nose.
If you are skeptical about the negative effects, check out your own body. Compare the skin on the front of your hands with the skin in your arm pits, the skin on your rear end, or whatever areas of skin you have that almost never get exposed to solar radiation. You are sure to notice a significant difference in texture, tone, amount of wrinkles, etc. If you do not have areas on your body that aren't exposed to the sun or UVA regularly, compare your skin to a child's skin, or a baby's skin.
Only ultraviolet exposure can actually tan the skin, but most experts agree that such exposure and the benefits are not worth the drawbacks and thus recommend other forms of "tanning". The skin will not actually be tan, but it can appear tan. You can use tanning lotions, spray on tans, and other forms of fake tan to get the golden glow you so desire without putting yourself at risk for cancer, wrinkles, premature aging of the skin, etc. You will feel a whole lot better about your skin being fake tan five years down the road when you still look tan and young. The dry, wrinkled, and course skin you get from too much ultraviolet exposure is ugly, and makes you look old. So, choose a healthier option, and stay out of the tanning beds.
