Tanning beds

What are the risks of tanning beds, are they ever safe?

In short no … Tanning Beds work the same way the Sun does and use Ultra Violet Light (UV Rays) to tan your skin.

An August 2008 ruling by an Australian federal court judge now makes it a requirement for the tanning industry to post warnings of the health problems, including skin cancer, associated with artificial tanning in tanning salons. To read more of this article click on the link below

No more Sunny Days for the Australian Tanning Bed Industry

How do tanning beds tan the skin?

The Sun exposes our skin to 2 main UV rays, UVA & UVB. UVA & UVB rays have both been proven to cause skin cancer, as well as causing premature aging. The UVB ray is a burning and cancer forming UV ray. When you have had too much sun exposure and you end up burnt, this is the ray responsible. The UVA ray is resposible for speeding up the ageing process by destroying our healthy skin cells. They also effect the melanin in our skin making us tan which can also lead to skin cancer.

Tanning beds tan your skin with the use of UVA rays. The same UVA rays we are exposed to by the Sun, and the same UVA rays that cause skin cancer. So the only difference between tanning beds and the sun is that most tanning beds do not use UVB rays.

Would like to know more on how the Sun compares to a Tanning Bed?



Can you get Skin Cancer from Tanning Beds?

Absolutely …….. The main ray used in tanning beds, UVA, has been proven to cause skin cancer. What scares me more is that no sun protection -SPF- is used in a tanning bed. An unprotected skin is a skin at risk.

Other Facts about tanning beds

1. Tanning beds can burn you, so wear a barrier cream if you use them

2. Tanning beds can give you pigmentation or un-even skin colour. Pigmentation is very difficult to get rid of, so if you are prone to pigmentation, it is wise to stay out of the tanning beds

3. Barrier creams or accelerators are recommended as they will reduce the chance of your skin burning.

4. Tanning beds AGE you - the UVA ray will break down your healthy skin cells as well as Collagen & Elastin faster than the normal aging process.

5. Tanning beds are dehydrating to the Skin