Five Fast Facts About Indoor Tanning

CNN.COM “Tanning”

Now I’ll admit that I am one to fall victim to getting my bronze on in the indoor beds. However, after doing some research I think I’m going to have to rethink how I get my Vitamin D. Hopefully these quick facts will allow you to be better informed about the implications of indoor tanning.

1. The Livestrong Website reports that the UVA radiation in tanning bed bulbs is up to three times more intense than UVA in natural sunlight.
2. Know how your parents used to cover you with sunscreen when you were a little kid? Well SPF is very important when being exposed to sunlight. Tanning beds have the same dangerous UVA rays as sunlight however: Tanning lotions used in indoor beds contain NO SPF.
3. In a recent study done by the American Academy of Dermatology, it was reported that the risk of melanoma is increased by 87 percent for individuals who started using tanning beds before the age of 35.
4. The FDA estimates that there are about 3,000 hospital emergency room cases a year due to indoor tanning bed and lamp exposure.
5. An article published in the New York Times reported “people who frequently use tanning beds experience changes in brain activity during their tanning sessions that mimic the patterns of drug addiction.”

So I hope that this short list of facts helps to inform you about the dangers of tanning beds. Many tanners may think that they are not at risk if they do not tan everyday, or multiple times a week. However, even one exposure to UV beds can be extremely damaging to your health.

This video made by the FDA helps to show the extreme dangers of tanning. Other videos can be found online which can educate and inform people about the dangers and hard facts of the tanning industry.

Until next time, protect the skin you’re in!