Rarely is the deceptiveness of appearance better demonstrated than when it comes to a nice "healthy" tan. The term healthy tan is an oxymoron: the skin's tanning is its reaction to the UV rays, from which it tries to protect itself by producing dark pigment called melanin. In essence, when you see a tan, you are looking at skin that was scared into producing melanin in a hurry.
Cancer
According to Dr. Craig Wax from the American Osteopathic Society, indoor tanning beds emit up to twice the amount of radiation as sun exposure and one of the biggest concerns about excess UV radiation is the risk of skin cancer, in particular malignant melanoma and basal cell carcinoma. The latter is the most common form of skin cancer; an open sore, or pink growth or red patch of skin can be indicators. Malignant melanoma is the deadliest kind of skin cancer. It occurs in adulthood, most often as a result of excess sun exposure with its accompanying sunburns in childhood. An irregularly shaped flat or slightly raised discolored looking patch can be a sign of this cancer. According to the Health Physics Society, using tanning beds before the age of 30 increases the risk of skin melanoma by 75 percent.
Cataracts
You are also at risk for cataracts if you use an indoor tanning device, which is why special eye protection is mandatory for both tanning beds and booths. Remember that indoor tanning devices are at least as powerful as the summer sun at noon, and often times more so. The World Health Organization, WHO, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer, IARC, found a link between tanning bed use and developing melanoma of the eye. And, melanoma is quite serious: While it is responsible for only 5 percent of skin cancer, it is involved in the majority of deaths from this disease.
Premature Skin Aging
Sun spots, sagging skin, loss of the skin's elasticity and wrinkles are all results of excess exposure to UV rays. Ignoring this information when you are young is easy but ill-advised; according to the AOA, young women are especially susceptible to skin cancer from UV radiation because they often use the types of products that heighten photo-sensitivity, meaning that you are even more prone to injury from ultra-violet light. The products are acne medication, birth control pills, high blood pressure medication, anti-depressants, lime oil, some cosmetics and certain ingredients in anti-dandruff shampoo, and even some soaps.
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