Tanning bed dangers
What you don't know may hurt you in the long run if you aren't aware of the reality of tanning bed dangers. There is no question that using a tanning bed is not healthy for you. However, that doesn't stop the numbers of people from continuing to pile into tanning salons anyway in an effort to get a great tan.
The majority of tanning bed goers believes 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. The best way to look at the situation is to see a tanning bed as the lesser of two evils. When used improperly the damage can be just as great, if not worse, than spending hours soaking in the sun's ultraviolet rays.
The most common tanning bed dangers involve damage to the eyes, burns, photosensitivity, a weakened immune system, and the likelihood of developing skin cancer. The ultraviolet light emitted from tanning beds is strong enough to cause retinal damage, which means that special eye goggles must be worn during each tanning session. 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.
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. Exposing the body to such high doses of UV rays can pose hazardous to the immune system, making it easier to succumb to diseases and illness. 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. Additionally, frequent indoor tanning can also result in wrinkled and sagging skin,which are the signs of premature aging.
