Now that the winter months are coming to an end, you may be stepping up your tanning bed visits to get your glow ready for summer. However, even though tanning salons are carefully monitored businesses, it is important to be aware of proper tanning safety. Because there is a great deal of misinformation about indoor tanning, I'll help you sift through the myths and get to the facts, so you can make an informed decision on the subject.
Risks of Indoor Tanning - Myths and Facts One of the greatest fears in indoor tanning is the risk of skin cancer. Melanomas and other types of dermal illnesses are a very real risk from excessive tanning, and you should be aware of the data. However, tanning within a doctor's recommended limits should be fine. The UVA rays, of the type emitted by indoor tanning equipment, are the variety that cause melanoma, and must be treated with caution. The rays emitted by indoor tanning equipment are on average two to three times more powerful than the ones that come naturally from the sun. Be especially careful when tanning in the nude, as those areas are not accustomed to exposure and can burn and be affected faster.
Speaking of dropping your drawers, some people believe that you can catch an STD at a tanning salon, including HIV or AIDS. This is incredibly unlikely - the fluids that HIV requires for transmission will not survive outside of the body. However, an unclean tanning location can expose you to simpler infections like crabs, so make sure your tanner is reputable and clean.
Tanning beds will not damage your internal organs in any way, but there is one organ that you must be sure to protect - your eyes. You will be provided with protective goggles, and it is imperative that you use them. Blindness or serious vision problems can occur if you don't.
UVA exposure can also cause milder effects to your skin - the most common is itching in the newly-tanned areas. This can be as simple as a case of dry skin, which can be treated by your moisturizer of choice, or you could suffer from photosensitivity. That condition can be caused by certain medications or simply be genetic, but if it persists, you may need to reconsider your tanning regiment.
And, of course, there are therapeutic and medical benefits to indoor tanning - sufferers of Seasonal Affective Disorder, who may experience severe depression during the winter months, have been shown to improve when they are treated with UVA light. And, of course, there is the simple physical fact that the human body looks better when it's a healthy tan, rather than a sickly pale.
I hope this article has helped you sort out the myth from the reality when it comes to indoor tanning. Now get out there and get your bronze on!
Aaron Andrews is a long time tanning bed user. He has worked in a number of tanning salons since 1986, and then for a tanning bed manufacturer and tanning bed supply company. He now puts his years of knowledge and experience into a series of indoor tanning tips to help you make the best tanning decisions and operates TanIndoors.com - a site dedicated to improving your tanning experience and information on sunless tanning lotion .
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
