Safe Tanning Using A Tanning Bed
by Anndrea Jenkin
http://www.uvatanningbed.com
A lot of people feel good with a tan and think that it
improves their appearance. You can get a tan in three
different ways: outside in the sun; by using a bronzing
creams or lotions; or by sunbathing under a tanning bed.
Where a tanning bed scores is in not needing good weather;
not many of us feel like laying scantily clad in the open
air during winter! A tanning bed also makes it easy to
limit your exposure very precisely, which means you can
keep down the time you spend receiving the UV that both
sunlight and sun beds contain.
If you choose to use a bed with artificial light to get
your tan then you need to know how to do it as safely as
possible. It is not true, as some advertisements claim,
that tanning beds are a 100% safe alternative to sun
bathing, so you need to know what you are doing.
Claims about the safety of tanning beds stem from the type
of artificial light that they use. The Ultra Violet (UV)
lights used in sun beds are said to be healthier than
sunlight. However, although there is an element of truth
in this, other important factors are left out. There are 2
types of ultra violet light that are also contained in the
sunlight outside, UV-A and UV-B. Today sun beds use UV-A
rays, but the first tanning machines used the more harmful
UV-B rays which allowed the skin to burn easily. UV-A
lights mean that skin doesn't often burn, but if this is
viewed as an excuse to spend hours on the bed it is still
not safe.
Watch out for any suggestion that the beds are so safe that
tanning goggles are unnecessary. Even UVa light is
damaging to our eyes, so you should insist on goggles every
time. You cannot substitute for the goggles by closing
your eyes, using standard sunglasses, or by placing rounds
of cotton wool over your eyelids. Tanning centers are
required by the Food and Drug Administration to use
goggles, so you are best advised not to use one that does
not insist on this.
Another question to ask yourself is whether you want to
have a tan all year? Using tanning beds on a regular basis
will mean that your skin will age prematurely. This is
something to consider - how about, rather than tanning the
whole year-round, restricting yourself to the summer
months? This especially appealing if you live in a country
that has its own seasons and where you will be covered up
in the winter months - but hey, it's up to you!
Children and tanning is also an important issue. Studies
have shown that if a youngster gets burned the effects are
more serious and more skin damage occurs. These studies
were looking specifically at UV-B, but plenty of experts
think the same caution should be applied to sun beds. So
decide if your child or adolescent really needs a tan.
A medical opinion should probably be sought before using
tanning beds. This is because some conditions - diabetes,
lupus and herpes simplex (cold sores) - are made worse by
sun bed treatments. On top of this you need to be cautious
because some medication makes skin more susceptible to
artificial tanning rays - the list includes certain types
of birth control pills, anti-histamines and tranquilizers.
So talk to the doctor.
If you want a tan badly enough, then go ahead an use an
artificial tan bed. Taking note of the guidance and
warnings above can help make it as safe as possible to get
that desired tan.
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