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Is it dangerous to use tanning beds, even in moderation?
What are the risks of skin cancer or other side effects? Looking for legitimate sources. 
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I'm going to have to say yes on this one, Oprah (even tho i rarely watch her) did a whole show on this and people that have used tanning beds when getting self portrait shots done of them and then super imposing these photos showed terrible damage done deep within the outer skin layers.
You might not see it when you look at someone even right up close but unfortunately it is there. :o(
You might not see it when you look at someone even right up close but unfortunately it is there. :o(
you're trading off having a certain look NOW for having good skin for the rest of your life. Foolish. There's also the health angle. Skin cancer can be deadly.
The skin cancer foundation warns that tanning beds have been linked to Melanoma.
source(s):
http://www.skincancer.org/Healthy-Skin-Beauty/International-Study-Links-Tan...
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/113489364/abstract?CRETRY=1&...
http://www.skincancer.org/Healthy-Skin-Beauty/International-Study-Links-Tan...
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/113489364/abstract?CRETRY=1&...
Tanning beds are not worth the risk of skin cancer that you are exposing yourself to. Sure, you might have a tan, but chemo kinda is a downer.
source(s):
Mah brain
Mah brain
Yes!
I agree with the first two posts, it will damage your skin.
It's understandable to want to have a tan, but there are creams and other alternatives that will give you the look you want without the damage!
Sun/Tanning Beds can cause skin cancer (my aunt died from this). Even if you are lucky and don't get skin cancer, your skin will age more and you'll look back and regret it.
I agree with the first two posts, it will damage your skin.
It's understandable to want to have a tan, but there are creams and other alternatives that will give you the look you want without the damage!
Sun/Tanning Beds can cause skin cancer (my aunt died from this). Even if you are lucky and don't get skin cancer, your skin will age more and you'll look back and regret it.
Quoting from a WebMD article:
"Fisher points to a study published in the International Journal of Cancer in March 2007 that reviewed 19 published studies on the association of tanning beds and skin cancers. They found use of the tanning beds before age 35 boosted the risk of melanoma by 75%."
Vitamin D being produced in the body as a result of exposure to sun light or UV light has been touted as a reason to use tanning beds, but there is no real reason to risk exposure to harmful UV rays when you can get Vitamin D in vitamin supplements or in Vitamin D rich and enriched foods.
Tanning (in tanning beds or otherwise) has also been shown to be linked to causing wrinkles.
"German researchers evaluated 59 people who voluntarily started to use sun beds over a three-month period. Use of the sun bed induced a DNA mutation in the skin known to be linked with photo aging, they report in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology."
Although this article does not mention the amount of time that the people in these studies spent in a tanning bed, a reasonable amount is a rather arbitrary measure for most people.
Is tanning in a tanning bed 1 day a week better than 2 days a week? I'd venture to say, yes. Is tanning in a tanning bed 0 days a week better than 1 day a week? I'd have to think that the answer is yes again.
"Fisher points to a study published in the International Journal of Cancer in March 2007 that reviewed 19 published studies on the association of tanning beds and skin cancers. They found use of the tanning beds before age 35 boosted the risk of melanoma by 75%."
Vitamin D being produced in the body as a result of exposure to sun light or UV light has been touted as a reason to use tanning beds, but there is no real reason to risk exposure to harmful UV rays when you can get Vitamin D in vitamin supplements or in Vitamin D rich and enriched foods.
Tanning (in tanning beds or otherwise) has also been shown to be linked to causing wrinkles.
"German researchers evaluated 59 people who voluntarily started to use sun beds over a three-month period. Use of the sun bed induced a DNA mutation in the skin known to be linked with photo aging, they report in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology."
Although this article does not mention the amount of time that the people in these studies spent in a tanning bed, a reasonable amount is a rather arbitrary measure for most people.
Is tanning in a tanning bed 1 day a week better than 2 days a week? I'd venture to say, yes. Is tanning in a tanning bed 0 days a week better than 1 day a week? I'd have to think that the answer is yes again.
I just had a consultation to remove a basal cell carcinoma from my scalp. That's the most common kind of skin cancer and is completely a result of excess sun exposure. There's a genetic component, in that people with fairer skin or histories of skin cancer are more at risk, but otherwise, it's all about the UV rays.
So, to your question, are tanning beds dangerous? I'd say yes, in the long run, and it's a relative risk that you have to consider. Based on your photograph though, I don't think you need any tanning. :)
Me, I'm buying some more cool hats.
So, to your question, are tanning beds dangerous? I'd say yes, in the long run, and it's a relative risk that you have to consider. Based on your photograph though, I don't think you need any tanning. :)
Me, I'm buying some more cool hats.
Haha, well thanks! I'm not actually looking for a tan, just more curious on all the evidence on both sides of the argument.
either dane cook or dave chappell
There are many adverse side effects to tanning bed use.
With 2 - 3 times more UVA rays than the sun, tanning bed use significantly increases one's risk for melanoma (skin cancer). According to skincancer.org, "First exposure to tanning beds in youth increases melanoma risk by 75 percent."
In addition to the long-term, life changing effects such as cancer. Tanning beds have other, side effects including. UV exposure lower one's immune system by reducing the activity of T cells and natural killer cells.
Superfluous side effects include sun burn, dry skin and other skin damage.
With 2 - 3 times more UVA rays than the sun, tanning bed use significantly increases one's risk for melanoma (skin cancer). According to skincancer.org, "First exposure to tanning beds in youth increases melanoma risk by 75 percent."
In addition to the long-term, life changing effects such as cancer. Tanning beds have other, side effects including. UV exposure lower one's immune system by reducing the activity of T cells and natural killer cells.
Superfluous side effects include sun burn, dry skin and other skin damage.
source(s):
1. http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/azhealthtopics/a/tanboothworthit.htm
2. http://www.skincancer.org/Skin-Cancer/2008-Skin-Cancer-Facts.html
3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&lis...
4. http://hps.org/hpspublications/articles/uv.html
1. http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/azhealthtopics/a/tanboothworthit.htm
2. http://www.skincancer.org/Skin-Cancer/2008-Skin-Cancer-Facts.html
3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&lis...
4. http://hps.org/hpspublications/articles/uv.html
Heh. 'Everything in moderation'. Exposure to the sun causes cancer, but also triggers the production of Vitamin D. This, quixotically, has been linked to lower cancer rates across the board. Moderate sunning has never been linked to skin cancer, although 'moderate' varies with the person. I am very fair-skinned and will burn in the dead of winter if i stay in the sun too long. I do not tan. Period. A person such as me would have a serious risk of skin cancer if I ever tried to tan. Other people, however, may never have any trouble with tanning.
The biggest complaint I'd have is the leathery look that comes from too much tanning. It's not healthy-looking to me and I don't find it attractive.
I would recommend that you avoid public tanning salons, as there is a common fungus you can pick up at one. I was not able to determine if fungus is easily killed by tanning beds, and since a type of fungus grows in one, it may not be likely to kill any other kind of fungus. The sun appears to be effective in killing fungus, as do several types of uv light; maybe the uv emitted by the average tanning bed is not effective.
Here's an article that talks about the potential health benefits from moderate tanning:
http://www.tanningbedconcerns.com/tanning-beds-vitamin-d.html
The biggest complaint I'd have is the leathery look that comes from too much tanning. It's not healthy-looking to me and I don't find it attractive.
I would recommend that you avoid public tanning salons, as there is a common fungus you can pick up at one. I was not able to determine if fungus is easily killed by tanning beds, and since a type of fungus grows in one, it may not be likely to kill any other kind of fungus. The sun appears to be effective in killing fungus, as do several types of uv light; maybe the uv emitted by the average tanning bed is not effective.
Here's an article that talks about the potential health benefits from moderate tanning:
http://www.tanningbedconcerns.com/tanning-beds-vitamin-d.html
Skin cancer is caused by DNA mutations in skin cells, due to ultraviolet light (Campbell, N., Reece, J. 2005. Biology Seventh Edition. Benjamin Cummings. 305-306). Tanning beds replicate the sun's rays, which include ultraviolet light (Levine, J., et al. 2005. The indoor UV tanning industry: A review of skin cancer risk, health benefit claims, and regulation. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology , Volume 53 , Issue 6 , Pages 1038 - 1044). The risk of cancer in a tanning bed is due to the same mechanism as risk of cancer from the sun, the World Health Organization does not recommend the use of tanning beds (WHO. 2003. Artificial tanning sunbeds: risk and guidance).
source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanning_beds
http://www.who.int/uv/publications/sunbedpubl/en/
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WM8-4HMW0G8-...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanning_beds
http://www.who.int/uv/publications/sunbedpubl/en/
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WM8-4HMW0G8-...
This is the most common bad effects of improper use of tanning beds:
skin burns
premature aging of your skin
skin cancer in most severe cases
So you can see, the dangers of indoor tanning are not a myth. However, that doesn't mean that you should never go near a tanning salon again.
How to avoid tanning beds health risks
For how long you tan and how often make a great difference. And it is important to know your limits. This is different for different people and depends mainly on your skin type. For example, if you are a natural redhead you must have a very fair skin that doesn't tan, but rather burn. If this is your case, you should only go for very short tanning sessions and use a strong tanning lotion.
For an inexperienced person it is difficult to judge, what is their skin type and what time in a tanning bed is best for them. So you will have to ask questions. Tanning salon stuff is educated about bad effects of tanning beds, this is required by law. They just keep quiet about health risks, because it hurts business. But they will have to answer your questions.
Questions to ask before you go for a tanning session:
What is the recommended tanning time for your skin type?
How often is it safe for you to tan?
What tanning bed lotion is best for you during and after tanning?
What kind of protective eyewear should you use?
skin burns
premature aging of your skin
skin cancer in most severe cases
So you can see, the dangers of indoor tanning are not a myth. However, that doesn't mean that you should never go near a tanning salon again.
How to avoid tanning beds health risks
For how long you tan and how often make a great difference. And it is important to know your limits. This is different for different people and depends mainly on your skin type. For example, if you are a natural redhead you must have a very fair skin that doesn't tan, but rather burn. If this is your case, you should only go for very short tanning sessions and use a strong tanning lotion.
For an inexperienced person it is difficult to judge, what is their skin type and what time in a tanning bed is best for them. So you will have to ask questions. Tanning salon stuff is educated about bad effects of tanning beds, this is required by law. They just keep quiet about health risks, because it hurts business. But they will have to answer your questions.
Questions to ask before you go for a tanning session:
What is the recommended tanning time for your skin type?
How often is it safe for you to tan?
What tanning bed lotion is best for you during and after tanning?
What kind of protective eyewear should you use?
Medical observations are against it (see above answers) but my main objection is that you would have to trust the company that makes the beds to give you adequate information. They do not.
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the most prominent and universal cancer-causing agent in our environment. The US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, National Toxicology Program Report on Carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) states that UV solar radiation, and use of sun lamps and sun beds are known to be a human carcinogen. There may be an association between UVA radiation (the type of radiation that makes up most of the radiation in tanning beds) and malignant melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer.Exposure to UV radiation has a detrimental effect on the immune system. Exposure causes changes in antigen presentation by Langerhans cells and macrophages. Also, the activities of natural killer cells and T cells is reduced. Last, cytokine regulation is disrupted by UV exposure. [12] Ultraviolet radiation exposure may facilitate the growth of skin neoplasms and the spreading of skin-associated infections due to stimulation of suppressor T cells. Although rare, it is possible for tanning beds to be a vector for infections of pubic lice, also known as crabs.
On the one hand, exposure to UV increases risk of skin cancer, especially if you're genetically prone. Unfortunately, there are no completely accurate ways to know if you are genetically prone. There are nutritional things you can do to reduce risk (see aicr.org). On the other hand, some UV exposure increases production of vitamin D. This vitamin, and especially the more bioactive forms it gets converted to, help protect you from cancer. They also have a lot of other health benefits. The vitamindcouncil.org website has guidelines for getting your blood tested to see when you get to a good level, when the tanning has produced a health benefit. Once you get to that good level, further UV exposure puts you into higher risk for skin cancer from the tanning bed (or sun bathing). So, especially if you don't get out into the sun or the sun where you are is not much (e.g. cold climates in winter), then a tanning bed can be healthy for you. Use the blood test periodically to find out how much tanning bed (or sun) exposure you should get in addition to your diet's vitamin D.
source(s):
I'm a physician and professor so it's my knowledge. I put in there the websites that I thought would be helpful -- aicr.org and vitamindcouncil.org.
I'm a physician and professor so it's my knowledge. I put in there the websites that I thought would be helpful -- aicr.org and vitamindcouncil.org.
No. The ultraviolet radiation is disastrous for your skin. My medical doctor prescribed me daily artificial ultraviolet radiation when I was about 5 years old. I had it daily for 2 years and now at the age of 56 I am covered with brown blots all over my body which have the potential to go cancerous.
So from experience I advise you not to do it.
So from experience I advise you not to do it.
YES and NO.
I am a certified tanning consultant so I will tell you what I know and have learned over the years...
Tanning beds give off the same rays as the sun except for UVC which is cancer causing. As you know the ozone layer is deteriorating.
What do u call "in moderation"? How often do u go? What is your skin type- are you pale with freckles, olive skin, dark skin, skin that never burns, skin that can burn but also tans just as fast??? What type of bed are you talking about? In order for me or anyone to decide on this answer you should give this detailed info....then you will get your true answer. :)
Write back so I can help you answer this question for you as it should be answered.
I am a certified tanning consultant so I will tell you what I know and have learned over the years...
Tanning beds give off the same rays as the sun except for UVC which is cancer causing. As you know the ozone layer is deteriorating.
What do u call "in moderation"? How often do u go? What is your skin type- are you pale with freckles, olive skin, dark skin, skin that never burns, skin that can burn but also tans just as fast??? What type of bed are you talking about? In order for me or anyone to decide on this answer you should give this detailed info....then you will get your true answer. :)
Write back so I can help you answer this question for you as it should be answered.
Yes, tanning beds can have the same negative effects as acutal tanning and may lead to skin cancer. While you will be less at risk if you use tanning beds less, your risk is still going to be higher than if you don't use tanning beds at all.
source(s):
http://ezinearticles.com/?Tanning-Bed-Side-Effects-And-Their-Harmful-Effect...
http://www.hps.org/publicinformation/ate/q1553.html
http://ezinearticles.com/?Tanning-Bed-Side-Effects-And-Their-Harmful-Effect...
http://www.hps.org/publicinformation/ate/q1553.html
Realistically, you're not going to have any adverse side-effects from using tanning beds sparingly. The problem with that is that most people who tan in tanning beds do so often. While developing cancer depends on many other factions, including heredity, there are many other less severe adversities that can result from tanning. Premature aging (wrinkling, spots, etc.) and vision problems related to eye damage is common in people who use tanning beds.
Here are some alarming statistics I've found:
According to study researcher Professor Antony Young of King's College London [...] the continuing and widespread use of sun beds is likely to result in increased numbers of people with malignant melanoma.
Perhaps dovetailing with the increased use of tanning beds, melanoma is becoming increasingly and alarmingly more common, moving from the No. 6 slot in 1997, to a projected No. 1 by the year 2022.
Along with melanoma, the use of tanning devices may also contribute to the incidence of non-melanoma skin cancers, according to a recent study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Dartmouth researchers report that people who used a tanning device were 2.5-times more likely to develop basal cell carcinoma, and 1.5-times more susceptible to squamous cell carcinoma. The tanning-bed users had risks higher than those who had previous sun exposure, but had not been under artificial lamps.
Here are some alarming statistics I've found:
According to study researcher Professor Antony Young of King's College London [...] the continuing and widespread use of sun beds is likely to result in increased numbers of people with malignant melanoma.
Perhaps dovetailing with the increased use of tanning beds, melanoma is becoming increasingly and alarmingly more common, moving from the No. 6 slot in 1997, to a projected No. 1 by the year 2022.
Along with melanoma, the use of tanning devices may also contribute to the incidence of non-melanoma skin cancers, according to a recent study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Dartmouth researchers report that people who used a tanning device were 2.5-times more likely to develop basal cell carcinoma, and 1.5-times more susceptible to squamous cell carcinoma. The tanning-bed users had risks higher than those who had previous sun exposure, but had not been under artificial lamps.
source(s):
http://www.dermadoctor.com/article_Tanning-Bed-Dangers_263.html
http://skincare.about.com/od/sunkissedglow/tp/Tanning-Booth-Warning.htm
http://www.dermadoctor.com/article_Tanning-Bed-Dangers_263.html
http://skincare.about.com/od/sunkissedglow/tp/Tanning-Booth-Warning.htm
No it is not dangerous at all just put an adequate amount of sun block. Tip tanning beds has lesser UV than the sun.
Yes! I have used a tanning bed five times in my life and am worried that I've already done some minor damage to my skin.
Reasons why tanning beds are hazardous:
1. Causes pre-mature wrinkles.
2. Can lead to skin cancer.
3. They release more UV light than the sun itself.
4. Can lead to light-induced skin rashes.
5. Can cause eye injury despite those goggles they give you.
6. Accelerated burning of the skin is never good.
7. Tanning beds can aggravate certain health conditions (i.e.diabetes,lupus).
Reasons why tanning beds are hazardous:
1. Causes pre-mature wrinkles.
2. Can lead to skin cancer.
3. They release more UV light than the sun itself.
4. Can lead to light-induced skin rashes.
5. Can cause eye injury despite those goggles they give you.
6. Accelerated burning of the skin is never good.
7. Tanning beds can aggravate certain health conditions (i.e.diabetes,lupus).
source(s):
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-159180568.html
http://www.easy-tanning.com/tanningbeds/tanning-tips/indoor-tanning/are-tan...
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-159180568.html
http://www.easy-tanning.com/tanningbeds/tanning-tips/indoor-tanning/are-tan...
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