In pursuit of a year-round tan, tanning enthusiasts have turned to tanning beds and booths to expedite the tanning process. A tanning booth specifically allows a person to stand up while ultraviolet rays work to tan the body. Although a tanned appearance may be physically desirable, many research organizations have linked indoor tanning to an increased chance of skin cancer--which causes more than 8,000 deaths each year, according to FoxNews.com.
Function
Tanning beds, booths or sun beds utilize artificial light to activate melanin in the skin, a pigment that turns the skin brown in color. If the skin is exposed to too many rays, the melanin can no longer support the rays, and a sunburn occurs, according to KidsHealth.org. Tanning booths emit ultraviolet A--UVA--and ultraviolet B--UVB--rays. The UVB rays may be produced in higher volumes than the sun's rays in a tanning bed to expedite the process of tanning, according to the World Health Organization. For this reason, spending 20 minutes in a tanning booth is the equivalent to spending a full day in the sun, according to DERMA Doctor.
Significance
Tanning beds and booths are widely used across the United States, according to DERMA Doctor, a skin-care website authored by dermatologists. More than 1 million Americans go to tanning salons every day. This usage has advanced the age of skin cancer diagnosis from age 50 to patients in their late teens or 20s, according to KidsHealth.org.
Warning
Many studies have been conducted on the effects of tanning bed usage on the skin. The World Health Organization labels tanning beds as known carcinogens, according to DERMA Doctor. The World Health Organization also has identified a link between the use of tanning beds and booths with malignant melanoma skin cancers, or deadly skin cancers. The UVA rays have been linked with causing melanoma. In addition, UVB rays are linked with squamous and basal cell carcinomas due to tanning booth exposure.
Benefits
In addition to providing a tan that some consider physically appealing, tanning booth usage can increase the amount of vitamin D in the body, according to the World Health Organization. Vitamin D, also known as the "sun" vitamin, can be obtained from ultraviolet rays or from dietary intake. In some isolated incidences, tanning beds can be utilized for the treatment of certain skin conditions, such as dermatitis and psoriasis.
Considerations
Utilizing tanning booths while taking certain medications can cause adverse reactions and increased sensitivity when exposed to ultraviolet light, according to Healthy Physics Society. These medications include antibiotics, medications to treat high blood pressure, diuretics, birth control pills and some diabetes medications. If you do utilize tanning beds, be aware that these medications could affect the way your skin tans.
