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There are many websites and so called studies without any hard evidence claiming that sun exposure and sun tanning is actually beneficial more than it is dangerous. This clearly does not make sense and is absolutely false. Science, fact and evidence tells us that suntans do not protect us from the sun, sun exposure is not good for our health or skin, sun tanning increases the risk of skin cancer. Being diagnosed with skin cancer may not be a high probability but that probability still exists nonetheless.

Since we are interested in taking care of our skin, I’ll put my case for why even tanning beds are unsafe.

Recap on Ultraviolet Rays

In a previous article on UV rays and sun tanning we looked at the science behind UV rays and whether sun tanning is safe.

To recap on ultraviolet radiation, UVB rays have short wavelengths which only hits the skins surface and is the major cause of burnt skin while UVA light penetrates deep into the skin layer producing the tan and also damaging cells in the process.

Are Tanning Beds Safe?

The problem with sun tanning beds or tanning booths is that they claim the ultraviolet light they create emits up to 95% less UVB rays than the sun while emitting UVA rays to produce the tan. I would much rather have 95% UVB rays than UVA rays. To me, burnt skin is much safer than getting skin cancer from UVA light.

Unfortunately, tanning beds concentrate UVA rays all over your body, increasing the risk of skin cancer. A common misconception is that a tanning bed is not a source of sunlight so there are no dangerous UV rays. All UV rays, direct from the sun or manufactured, are the same.

What about getting Vitamin D from the sun? Well, all you need is 10-15 minutes two to three times a week. Everybody gets this much from their daily routine anyways so claiming that we need more sun exposure is incorrect.

According to The Center for Science For the Public Interest:
Exposing non-sunscreened hands, face and arms to the sun for about ten to fifteen minutes (depending on skin sensitivity to sunburning, latitude and time of day) two to three times a week between 8 am and 4 pm gives the body it’s Vitamin D requirement.

Sun Tanning Beds

As I mentioned above, tanning beds use UVA rays to tan the skin. Since UVA does not cause an immediate skin reddening or sunburn as do UVB rays, people do not realize the potential long-term damage to our skin.

• According to recent research, results showed that UVA received in a salon is around 2-3 times greater than the amount of UVA received from the sun. 20 minutes in a tanning bed is same as being exposed one whole day directly under the sun.

The attractive bronze skin you see today can lead to skin aging, dark spots and skin cancer tomorrow or decades from now.

Thankfully salons and tanning beds are now subject to the Tan Act which requires operators to properly label and display the warnings of exposure to UV radiation and the health hazard it is.

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