Is Indoor Tanning As Harmful To Your Skin As Unprotected Sun Exposure

Indoor Tanning vs Sun Exposure

You may not realize tanning beds are much more dangerous than sun exposure. You can protect from skin cancer when outdoors by following simple safety precautions. The UV radiation emitted from a tanning bed is as much as 15 times higher than the sun. Every time you use a tanning bed, there is skin damage. According to recent studies, tanning beds are used by 2.5 million teenagers every year, increasing skin cancer risks.

The study showed tanning beds are frequently used by adults in the United States between the ages of 18 and 25. Sunburns for adults using sunscreen while in the sun also using indoor tanning beds have increased. The reason is the tanning beds, not the sun. The UVA rays emitted by tanning beds penetrate deeply reaching the dermal-epidermal layer of the skin. The result is damage to the cell's DNA.

Once these cells are damaged, the development of melanoma can occur due to the growth and multiplication of the abnormal cells. In addition to UVA rays, UVB rays are emitted by tanning beds. This increases the risk of melanoma and skin cancers including squamous and basal cells. You can protect from skin cancer by staying away from tanning beds.

Tanning Bed FAQs

• According to the World Health Organization, UV rays emitted by tanning beds may cause cancer. Safe tanning beds do not exist.

• The deadliest type of skin cancer is melanoma. One person dies every 50 minutes. The increase in melanoma cases is higher than with any other type of cancer.

• Tanning beds increase your risk of melanoma by 59 percent. The more you use tanning beds the greater your risk.

• Even if you do not have a sunburn, your skin might be damaged. Tanned skin is essentially damaged skin.

• Your skin requires exposure to the sun two to three times every week for the production of vitamin D. This is important for the overall health of your skin. The UVB rays contained in natural sunlight enable the production of vitamin D. Additional exposure will not increase your production. Tanning beds emit mostly UVA rays which will not increase your vitamin D levels but will increase your skin cancer risks.

If you want to appear tan, make certain you apply a good product to protect your skin from the sun before exposure. Protection from tanning beds is not possible since mostly UVA rays are emitted by the fluorescent bulbs with very little UVB. The UVA radiation from natural sunlight is three times less intense than tanning beds.

The History of Tanning Beds

Studies have been conducted regarding the harmful effect of tanning beds over a long period of time. Time was required to be certain of the risks since tanning beds are fairly new. The first tanning bed was not commercially released in the United States until late in the 1970s. Evidence began increasing during the 1990s showing a connection between all skin cancers and tanning beds.

The National Cancer Institute conducted a study in 2002 regarding indoor tanning beds. The results showed basal cell carcinoma risks increased by 50 percent with squamous cell carcinoma risks increasing by 100 percent. The Research on Cancer Agency conducted an analysis in 2007 on 19 different studies already conducted regarding the risk of melanoma due to indoor tanning.

The conclusion was individuals participating in indoor tanning prior to the age of 35 increased their risk of melanoma by 75 percent. Numerous government agencies all over the world have since issued cautions and warnings against the use of tanning beds. The impact of tanning on skin cells was determined through laboratory research. The DNA found in your cells can be damaged by the UVA and UVB rays emitted by tanning beds.

Tanning beds potentially cause mutations resulting in cancer. This is a direct result of damage caused by indoor tanning. This means the tan you receive represents DNA damage to your skin. Unfortunately, even though there is conclusive scientific evidence showing the danger of tanning beds, more and more people are using them. Almost 30 million individuals in the United States visit indoor tanning salons yearly.

According to surveys, a lot of individuals understand there is a risk but continue using tanning beds due to the convenience.