Tanning bed dangers

It is estimated that 30 million North Americans expose themselves to tanning bed dangers every year in tanning salons as an alternative to outdoor tanning, or in conjunction with it. Today, we are also that much more aware about the potential health benefits of exposure to the sun's UV rays. However, the crucial aspect of indulging in these benefits is managing the risks that can be associated with sunburn and overexposure.

It is what you don't know that may hurt you in the long run, if you aren't aware of the reality of tanning bed dangers.

Many tanning bed goers believe that their chances at avoiding skin cancer and skin damage are decreased by using a tanning bed instead of lying out in the actual sun. However, when used incorrectly, the damage can actually be far greater than spending many long hours soaking in the sun's ultraviolet rays.

The most common tanning bed dangers involve...

• damage to the eyes: The intense rays emitted in tanning beds are strong enough to cause severe eye injury to the retina, cornea, and can even cause cataracts. Flash burns and keratitis (an eye infection caused by a fungus) are conditions that have also been linked to prolonged exposure to such radiation. Special eye goggles must be worn during each tanning session. These are shaped so as to protect the eye and the eyelid only and not give you that goggle shaped tan you get sometimes when tanning outdoors with your sunglasses on.
• skin burns: Getting a burn from a tanning bed works in very much the same way as getting sunburned from the real sun. Areas of the body that aren't normally exposed to the sun will have a tendency to burn much faster. The more severe the burn, the more damaged your skin will become.
• photosensitivity development: Going to the tanning salon frequently can result in photosensitivity, which means that the skin will not be able to stand being in direct sunlight without a negative skin reaction.
• a weakened immune system:There is little awareness of this particular tanning bed danger. Exposing the body to high doses of UV rays can pose hazardous to the immune system, making it easier to succumb to diseases and illness. Ultraviolet (UV) light damages skin by causing chemical bonds to form in the wrong places along the DNA molecules in our cells. Normally, other, even smaller molecules called photolyases heal the damage. Sunburn happens when the DNA is too damaged to repair, and cells die.
• skin cancer: Over time the amounts of ultraviolet rays emitted by tanning beds can also increase the chances of developing skin cancer, namely melanoma, which is the most fatal of all skin cancer types.
• premature aging of the skin: frequent indoor tanning can also result in wrinkled and sagging skin, which are the signs of premature aging.

In the United States, the UV output of suntan beds is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration so that users, particularly those who get their artificial tan from tanning bed salons, get only a limited amount of UV rays per session. The government, though, has refused to uphold some medical associations' call for a ban on the use and sale of sunbeds. Instead, authorities prohibited the sunbed industry from selling the products for any purpose other than cosmetic. This rule effectively prevents consumers from filing health claims should any of the suspected tanning bed dangers manifest.

Just as being under the sun too long can cause sunburn, lying in a tanning bed for a long period of time can still do quite a bit of damage to the skin and your complexion. Unfortunately, many people believe that the longer they stay in the tanning bed, the more quickly they will tan, thus avoiding the need to go back again. This couldn't be more wrong.

Individuals that plan on using a tanning bed should not only limit the amount of time spent in the tanning bed, but also the number of times they go tanning at the salon every week.

If tanning beds don't appeal to you, there are plenty of sunless tanning products available that will allow you to get a tan without exposing your skin to tanning bed dangers.

Photosensitivity disorders can occur as a result of certain medications being taken increasing the sensitivity to light. In some people, specific medications can produce adverse effects when the person is exposed to sunlight or other types of ultraviolet (UV) light of an intensity, or for a length of time, that would not usually give the person problems. Some of the common medications listed include...

These reactions are not common but are worth taking note of if you are taking any medicines.