Although ultraviolet light bulbs were discovered early in the 20th century, it was not until the 1970s that Friedrich Wolff, a German scientist, effectively used them for tanning purposes. Wolff wanted to see if exposing athletes to indoor UV bulbs would have positive effects on performance. As a side effect, according to TanningBedsNow, the athletes became tanned, and an industry was born.
Types
LampCompatibility notes that tanning bulbs--also known as lamps--come in two main types; high pressure and low pressure units.
High pressure units produce a spectrum of UV ideal for tanning. The high levels of UVA rays help to create the tan. Although UVC, UVB, infrared radiation and visible light also are produced by high-pressure units, this radiation is largely filtered out. The low-pressure units resemble fluorescent office lighting, burn longer, produce less UVA and UVB and filter UVC rays. UVC is the shortest of the UV rays.
Misconceptions
The UV rating that you see on tanning bed bulbs is often confused as being the strength of tan that can be produced. In fact, the rating is actually the amount of UVB light a bulb emits. For instance a bulb with a 6.5 percent rating emits 6.5 percent UVB and 93.5 percent UVA. Bulbs with more UVA will make you darker but at a slower rate compared with bulbs with more UVB, which produce a quicker but lighter tan, according to TanningBedBulbs
Features
The bulbs with more UVA and lower levels of UVB are often commercially called bronzing bulbs. A tan from these bulbs is darker but will build up slower than normal bulbs.
Hot bulbs are often confused as bronzing bulbs, but, in fact, are the complete opposite. Hot bulbs have higher UVB levels, which produce a quicker tan that is lighter in color but more likely to burn the skin, says TanningBedBulbs.
Extras
Many tanning beds come with a facial bulb feature. This bulb is often a lower pressure unit, which is not as harsh to the face area and can be turned off..
The different colors of tanning bulbs, whether they are pink, blue, green, yellow or purple, are simply for atmospheric purposes or for the salon to identify different bulb types. The colors themselves make no difference to tanning results.
Warning
KidsHealth.org notes that the two types of UV light that affect the skin are UVA and UVB. UVB radiation burns the surface layers of the skin. UVA goes deeper and reacts with cell pigments to produce melanin. It is melanin which is responsible for giving the skin its tanned look. UVA is thought to produce more skin aging over time, while UVB is thought to be the main culprit for skin cancer.
Overall, the concentration of UV rays is significantly higher than the sun, so with long-term use, there is a greater chance of premature aging and skin cancer, notes the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
