Tanning Beds Effects

There is a worldwide craze about tanning today. Everyone is talking about the 'Bahamas tan' and the 'sun kissed tan' with a lot of enthusiasm. Needless to say, that the tanning beds are really an easy way to get the perfect kind of tan. Tanning beds are equipped with certain halogen lamps that emit similar kinds of rays as that of the sun that helps in giving the perfect tan.

Tanning beds emit two kinds of ultraviolet rays, that are - UVA, which are long waves and UVB, which are short waves. Tanning beds emit 95% of UVA rays that help in skin penetration and avoids skin burns too. More or less than 3% of UVB rays (also called as burning rays) are emitted by tanning beds, that stimulate the natural production of the vitamin D, as well as, help in preventing fractures and muscle weakness. Still, it is important to understand the fact that the World Health Organization (WHO) has not given official permission for using the tanning beds.

Tanning Beds Effects: Positive
A well toned 'bronzed body' is the latest craze of today's fashion conscious generation. There is no scarcity of the tanning beds salons, as well as of home tanning beds too. One can just slid in and have the sun like tan effect without getting exposed to the harmful sun rays. Many people prefer using a tanning bed at home and they mostly prefer high pressure tanning beds.

• Vitamin D Deficiency: People who have deficiency of vitamin D are many times suggested to get tanned in a lot of sun or at least by using home tanning beds. It is always possible to find vitamin D sources in healthy diet, such as dairy products and seafood, but getting a good tan as a supplementary treatment is always beneficial.
• Seasonal Affective Disorder: Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD is observed in people who suffer from depression, especially during the winter season. Tanning beds can provide the photo-therapy treatment (providing UV rays) which is required for the treatment of the patient.

Tanning Beds Effects: Negative
It is often observed that whenever man tried to imitate or replace nature it has caused some damage or the other. The effects of tanning the body are no different. Tanning beds actually prove to be harmful, if overused. In case of tanning beds, what happens is that people often tend to get exposed more and more to them, as they are considered to be less harmful than the sun. This actually works in a harmful way and leads to many extreme damages to the skin and sometimes the DNA format as well.

• Skin cancer: 'Malignant melanoma' or skin cancer as it is better known is the biggest risk factor that can be caused due to over exposure to the UV rays through sunlight or by tanning beds.
• Damaged Eyes: Overexposure of ultraviolet rays leads to 'ocular carcinoma' or cancer of the eyes. The arc eye effect (corneal flash burns) is also caused by the overexposure of tanning beds. Most people tend to ignore the health warnings of wearing a good quality eye gear when using the tanning beds as they want to tan their eyelids. Long term exposures to the rays emitted by tanning beds can harm the eyes to a great extent.
• Aging: Overexposure to the UV rays can actually lead to premature aging of the skin. Premature wrinkles are caused, along with irreversible changes in color, texture tone and elasticity of the skin.

What is the solution to avoid the side effects of tanning beds then? It is a fact that using the tanning beds help to avoid exposure to many harmful sun rays but it is also true that overexposure to tanning beds can actually cause more harm than the sun rays to the body. Hence it is best advised to use good quality tanning bed products, such as eye goggles and sunscreen lotions having SPF (sun protection factor) that suits your skin type. All in all, my suggestion would be, try to understand the tanning bed facts and enjoy positive tanning beds effects by avoiding overexposure to it!