Tanning beds: The
Negative Truth
Do not believe the ads that tell you that
indoor tanning machines are safer than tanning
outdoors. The truth is that tanning machines can
damage your skin. The tanning process occurs as
the skin produces extra pigment, or coloring, to
protect itself from the burning effects of
ultraviolet rays. Just like the sun, the indoor
tanning devices emit ultraviolet rays. By
subjecting yourself to these ultraviolet rays,
your skin can become prematurely wrinkled, you
may develop eye injuries, skin rashes and even
skin cancer.
The tanning bed has become the most popular
indoor tanning machine in recent years. It is a
clamshell-shaped tanning bed, wherein the person
lies down on a Plexiglas surface. The lights
from both the top and bottom come on to "tan"
the body.
The older versions of tanning machines emitted
short-wave ultraviolet rays, (UVB rays) that
caused burning. Once it was determined that UVB
radiation was harmful, salon owners started
using tanning devices that would emit long wave
light sources (UVA rays). The claims that UVA
rays are safe is actually not true, although
they are less apt to cause burning than UVB
rays. However, the effects of UVA rays has been
known to contribute to malignant melanoma, as
well as damage of the immune system.
There are many advertising claims regarding the
use of indoor tanning devices that stretch the
truth a bit, and some that are just plain false.
Some of them are listed below.
By using a tanning bed, you can attain a dark
tan year-round with mild, safe UVA light.
This statement is false in that the
short-wave ultraviolet rays, which are UVB rays
can burn the top layer of skin. The UVA (long
wave) rays go deep into the skin which can cause
the skin's inner connective tissue to weaken.
In addition, if your skin is exposed to
artificial sources of ultraviolet light on a
long term basis, you are exposing your skin to
the same risks as if you were exposed to the
sun. This exposure can result in the development
of skin cancer. If detected early, basal cell
and Squamous cell skin cancers can be treated.
However, Melanoma, can be fatal.
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