Did you just read tanning bed and think of the scene from “A Series of Unfortunate Events” where due to some accident, the girl dies inside the tanning bed? Yikes, we know! How painful! Lately, there have been lots of debate on whether or not tanning beds are safe.

With dermatologists claiming that the UV radiation from tanning beds is a hundred times worse than regular sunlight, and tanning salons claiming that tanning beds are the perfect way to maintain your post-summer glow, it is becoming increasingly hard to know who to believe.

The final verdict, my friends, is that tanning beds are not safe. Here are the risks associated with indoor tanning:

Skin Cancer

Did you know that you can get a sunburn from tanning beds, too? This means that the risk of skin cancer is just as high as if you were to go out in the sun without any sunblock. You get tan because your body reacts to the UV radiation. When your body is protecting itself from future UV damage, it becomes tan.

According to numerous studies, UV radiation, whether from a tanning bed or the sun, is responsible for skin cancer. The International Agency for Research on Skin Cancer states that individuals who use tanning beds before the age of 30 are 75 percent more prone to skin cancer. In case of a family history of skin cancer, particularly melanoma, tanning beds and prolonged exposure to the sun should be avoided at all costs.

Changes in Skin Texture

An overuse of tanning beds can cause the texture of your skin to change. It can also speed up the process of skin aging. Moreover, tanning is also responsible for:

• Sagging skin
• Fine lines
• Wrinkles
• Brown spots, also known as sunspots
• Sagging skin
• Pigmentation

The UV levels of tanning beds are 100 times more than the sun. This means that even a short while spent in a tanning bed can increase your risk of the above-mentioned conditions. It is important to note that these effects do not show up after only one session of indoor tanning. Instead, they build up over time. The damaging effects lurking underneath the skin may take years to become noticeable.

Eye Damage

Eye protection while using a tanning bed is a necessity. If you do not wear it, you are damaging your eyes. Many tanning bed users who do not use protective gear complain of sunburns on the cornea. If you excessively tan, you are also at risk of cataracts and cancer in the connective tissue that surrounds the eye and can spread all over the body.

Even if you choose to tan at the beach all day, make sure that you are wearing sunglasses.

Infections

Tanning beds are not the most sanitary places. Many people complain of skin infections, rashes, and warts after their tanning session. A “tanning bed rash” is the most common infection that results from a dirty tanning bed. Uv rays from the tanning beds are so intense that they dry out your skin, causing itchiness, flaking, and redness.

Moreover, if the tanning bed has not been cleaned and you lie down in the dried sweat of the previous user, you might also be at risk for more infections.

The lesson? Avoid tanning beds as much as possible! Instead, use spray tans or self-tanning lotions and creams to achieve that post-sun-glow.

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