A friend recently told me that she was considering going to a tanning salon for a bit of color in her skin and wanted to know what I thought. While I didn’t feel that I should make the decision for her, I did think it was important that she understood the risks inherent in tanning (any expert will tell you that tanned skin is damaged skin).
There is confusion regarding the safety of tanning beds and depending on who you talk to, they are either completely safe or a risky venture. And although I’ve written about tanning beds before, I still get asked a lot of questions about tanning in general. I think it’s a topic important enough to cover again.
How Do Tanning Beds Work?
Tanning beds, sunbeds and tanning booths all work by using devices that emit ultraviolet radiation (typically in the ratio of 95% UVA and 5% UVB). The higher ratio of UVA rays contributes to tanning, while the lower amount of UVB rays helps to minimize the chances of you burning.
Because of the ultraviolet rays, exposure to tanning beds carries the same risk as unprotected exposure to the sun. In fact, the World Health Organization has recently upgraded the classification of UV-emitting devices, such as tanning beds, from a probable carcinogen (cancer causing substance) to a known carcinogen. What this means is that tanning beds are no longer something we think probably causes cancer – we know they cause cancer. Additionally, research done by the International Agency for Research on Cancer shows that being exposed to UV radiation from indoor tanning equipment before the age of 35 increases your risk of melanoma (skin cancer). Overexposure to UV rays are also known to cause cataracts, suppress the immune system and cause premature skin aging. All reasons to avoid UV tanning devices for cosmetic reasons.
What does the tanning industry have to say about this? In a recent article , Kathy Banks, chief executive of The Sunbed Association, a European trade association of tanning bed makers and operators, disputed the classification of tanning beds as carcinogenic. “The fact that is continuously ignored is that there is no proven link between the responsible use of sunbeds and skin cancer,” Banks said in a statement.
I don’t know about you, but I’m placing my trust in the WHO. If you still crave that glow, do it safely and consider a self tanner.
