According to Vanderbilt University, the use of tanning beds increases the risk of developing skin problems, including cutaneous malignant melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer. While tanned skin offers more protection against the sun than fair skin, how you obtain that tan plays a big role in your risk of developing cancer in the future. Having a history of sunburns makes the problem worse, even if you end up developing a tan.
Indoor vs. Outdoor Tanning
You’re less likely to burn tanning indoors than you are when exposed to the sun, according to Vanderbilt University. This is because sundbeds contain 40 percent less UVB rays than sunlight. UVB rays are the ones that cause burning, as they penetrate deeper into the skin. You’re also less likely to burn using a sunbed because you can control the amount of exposure or choose a tanning bed with a lower power to avoid burning.
Skin Types
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, your skin type can fall into one of six different categories. Types I, II and III are more likely to burn. Because they have a more difficult time tanning, these groups are also more likely to more times in sunbeds or choose stronger ones. These types include people with fair skin who don’t tan or are very likely to get sunburned, rather than tanned, when outdoors. Those who fall into these categories should avoid sunbeds.
Factors
Sunburns are more likely in certain people and under certain circumstances. According to Tanning Facts, some medications cause photosensitivity, making it more likely that you will burn when using a tanning booth. The number of medications that cause photosensitivity is very long but not everybody has a reaction or has a reaction with the same intensity. Medications that can increase the chances of burning when using a sunbed include antidepressants, antihistamines, birth control pills, antifungals, some antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Exposure
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, burning is more likely when people start with long exposures instead of building up slowly. Sunburn takes up to 48 hours to develop, so people might even come back the next day to use a tanning bed again without realizing that their skin is already burned.
Precautions
If you’re going to use a sunbed, take precautions to avoid burning. CareFair.com recommends keeping your first few sessions under five minutes. Take breaks of at least 24 hours between tanning sessions, so you give your skin time to develop a tan before you expose it to a sunbed again. During the first sessions, use a sunblocker or protection lotion and avoid accelerators or tanning lotions, which are meant to speed up the tanning process and will increase your risk of burning.
