The spring and summer months are just around the corner. With the warmer weather approaching, the sweaters and long pants will soon be put back into the closet in favor of tank tops and shorts. Soon, you’ll be bombarded by images of sun-kissed models everywhere you go. This can make you long for the same glow.
You already know that spending too much time out in the sun can be dangerous. So instead, you start thinking about heading to your local tanning salon. Tanning beds have often been advertised as a safe option for getting gorgeously tanned skin without having to spend time outdoors in direct sunlight. The unfortunate truth, however, is that tanning beds expose your skin to the same harmful UV rays, and, by lulling you into a false sense of security, they amp up your risk for experiencing even more significant skin and eye damage than the sun itself.
A Short History of Tanning Beds
Tan skin wasn’t always considered attractive, especially on young women. It was snobbishly considered to be a sign that you labored outside, whereas high-class women stayed covered up and pale. It wasn’t until the 1920s that Coco Chanel, who had gotten too much sun while on a cruise, made the sun-kissed look a trend.
From that moment on, people spent countless hours out in the sun trying to achieve the bronzed look. However, as time went on, dermatologists and oncologists were seeing an alarming rise in multiple issues, including premature signs of aging and skin cancer.
The tanning bed was invented in Germany using UV lights that had previously been used to treat patients with vitamin D deficiency, and it came to the United States in 1978. It was touted to be the healthier alternative to lounging about in the sunshine. Not long after, however, it was soon discovered that tanning beds were just as harmful, if not more so, than getting natural sunlight.
3 Primary Dangers of Tanning Beds
1. SKIN CANCER
Attempting to get a summer glow via a tanning bed can drastically increase your risk of developing skin cancer. Just like the sun, tanning beds expose your body to harmful UV rays. More people develop skin cancer because of indoor tanning than individuals develop lung cancer due to smoking. There is a 75% increase in melanoma, the deadliest type of skin cancer, in anyone who has used an indoor tanning bed before the age of 35. Over 419,000 cases of skin cancer are linked to indoor tanning, and $343.1 million is spent on skin cancer linked to indoor tanning.The best way to avoid skin cancer is to avoid tanning beds and take the proper precautions when spending time outdoors. This includes wearing a zinc-based sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. This type of sunscreen, worn every day, can reduce the risk of melanoma by 50%.
2. EYE DAMAGE
Just like too much sun exposure, the UV rays from tanning beds can also lead to eye damage. The UV light produced in tanning beds can often be greater, and it can cause damage to the internal and external structures of your eyes as well as your eyelids. It can cause issues such as pterygium, iritis, photo conjunctivitis, cataracts, and even cancers of the eye. Eye damage is becoming even more prevalent these days due to the use of cellphones while in the tanning bed.
3. PREMATURE AGING
You’ve most likely already heard (probably several times) that unprotected sun exposure can cause premature aging. These issues are caused by the UV exposure, and they can also be caused by exposure to the UV rays in indoor tanning beds. UV rays damage your skin cells, which causes photoaging. The skin loses the ability to repair itself. It speeds up the development of fine lines, wrinkles, uneven skin texture, and sun spots. Suddenly, you look years older than you really are, all because of the need to have tanned skin.
There is no such thing as getting a “safe tan.” If you’re using tanning beds, stop immediately. And if you’ve been lured by them in the past (but have since given them up), schedule a complimentary consultation with us. We can recommend customized skin care routines and the latest treatments to reverse the signs of aging.
If you want to get the look of sun-kissed skin without having to expose yourself to harmful UV rays, whether those rays come from the sun or they come from a tanning bed, we have amazing relationships with some very talented spray tan artists, including KMaxx Tanning (203-915-7592) and Rain Wellness Spa (203-483-0300).
*All statistics and photos courtesy of skincancer.org.
