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The
Truth On Tanning Beds
"Tan
indoors with absolutely no
harmful side effects"
"No burning, no drying, and no
sun damage"
"Unlike the sun, indoor tanning
will not cause skin cancer or
skin aging"
Beware of claims like these.
Ads that claim indoor
tanning devices are a safe
alternative to outdoor tanning
may be false.
Tanning indoors damages your
skin. That’s because indoor
tanning devices emit ultraviolet
rays. Tanning occurs when the
skin produces additional pigment
(coloring) to protect itself
against burn from ultraviolet
rays. Overexposure to these rays
can cause eye injury, premature
wrinkling of the skin, and
light-induced skin rashes, and
can increase your chances of
developing skin cancer.
Tanning Devices
The most popular device used in
tanning salons is a
clamshell-like tanning bed. The
customer lies down on a
Plexiglas surface as lights from
above and below reach the body.
Many older tanning devices used
light sources that emitted
shortwave ultraviolet rays (UVB)
that actually caused burning.
Aware of the harmful effects of
UVB radiation, salon owners
began using tanning beds that
emit mostly longwave (UVA) light
sources. Some salons claim this
is safe. While UVA rays are less
likely to cause burning than UVB
rays, they are suspected to have
links to malignant melanoma and
immune system damage.
Advertising Claims
Here are some claims commonly
made about indoor tanning — and
the facts.
"You can achieve a deep
year-round tan with gentle,
comfortable, and safe UVA
light."
Ultraviolet light is divided
into two wavelength bands.
Shortwave ultraviolet rays
called UVB can burn the outer
layer of skin. Longwave
ultraviolet rays called UVA
penetrate more deeply and can
weaken the skin’s inner
connective tissue.
Long-term exposure to the sun
and to artificial sources of
ultraviolet light contributes to
the risk of developing skin
cancer. Two types of skin
cancer, basal cell and squamous
cell, are treatable if detected
early. Melanoma, another type of
skin cancer, can be fatal.
"No harsh glare, so no
goggles or eye shades are
necessary."
Studies show that too much
exposure to ultraviolet rays,
including UVA rays, can damage
the retina. Overexposure can
burn the cornea, and repeated
exposure over many years can
change the structure of the lens
so that it begins to cloud,
forming a cataract. Left
untreated, cataracts can cause
blindness.
The Food and Drug Administration
requires tanning salons to
direct all customers to wear
protective eye goggles. Closing
your eyes, wearing ordinary
sunglasses, and using cotton
wads do not protect the cornea
from the intensity of UV
radiation in tanning devices.
Long-term exposure to natural
sunlight also can result in eye
damage, but in the sun, people
generally are more aware that
their eyelids are burning. Under
indoor UV lights, exposed skin
remains cool to the touch. In
addition, the intensity of
lights used in tanning devices
is much greater — and
potentially more damaging to the
eyes — than the intensity of UV
rays in natural sunlight.
"Tan year round without
the harmful side effects often
associated with natural
sunlight."
Exposure to tanning salon
rays increases the damage caused
by sunlight. This occurs
because ultraviolet light
actually thins the skin, making
it less able to heal.
Unprotected exposure to
utltraviolet rays also results
in premature skin aging. A
tan is damaged skin that is more
likely to wrinkle and sag than
skin that hasn’t been tanned.
Over time, you may notice
certain undesirable changes in
the way your skin looks and
heals. According to some skin
specialists, skin that has a
dry, wrinkled, leathery
appearance early in middle age
is a result of UV exposure that
occurred in youth.
"No danger in exposure or
burning."
Whether you tan indoors or out,
studies show the combination of
ultraviolet rays and some
medicines, birth control pills,
cosmetics, and soaps may
accelerate skin burns or produce
painful adverse skin reactions,
such as rashes. In addition,
tanning devices may induce
common light-sensitive skin
ailments like cold sores.
Protecting Yourself
Limit your exposure to avoid
sunburn. If you tan with a
device, ask whether the
manufacturer or the salon staff
recommend exposure limits for
your skin type. Set a timer on
the tanning device that
automatically shuts off the
lights or somehow signals that
you’ve reached your exposure
time. Remember that exposure
time affects burning and that
your age at the time of exposure
is important relative to
burning. Studies suggest that
children and adolescents are
harmed more by equivalent
amounts of UVB rays than adults.
The earlier you start tanning,
the earlier skin injury may
occur.
Use goggles to protect your
eyes. Ask whether safety goggles
are provided and if their use is
mandatory. Make sure the goggles
fit snugly. Check to see that
the salon sterilizes the goggles
after each use to prevent the
spread of eye infections.
Consider your medical history.
If you are undergoing treatment
for lupus or diabetes or are
susceptible to cold sores, be
aware that these conditions can
be aggravated through exposure
to ultraviolet radiation from
tanning devices, sunlamps, or
natural sunlight. In addition,
your skin may be more sensitive
to artificial light or sunlight
if you use certain medications —
for example, antihistamines,
tranquilizers or birth control
pills. Your tanning salon may
keep a file with information on
your medical history,
medications, and treatments.
Make sure you update it as
necessary.
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