When looking for ways to give your skin a glow with a tan, the two most common options available are the sun and tanning beds. Although both options provide the same results, each has its own set of advantages, disadvantages and dangers. Understanding this information before you go tanning can help save your skin, and in some cases, your life.
History
Tanning started as a fashion fad in 1923, thanks to world renowned fashion designer Coco Chanel. While cruising on a yacht from Paris to Cannes, Coco left her skin unprotected, resulting in a deep tan. While getting off the yacht, followers of her work saw her deep skin color. This started the trend of tanning as we know it today. As schedules became too busy for people to spend time outside in the sun for a tan, the 1980s introduced tanning salons and tanning beds to produce the perfect tan in less time.
Function
Both tanning beds and natural sunlight work by influencing the melanin in your skin. As UV radiation emits from its source (the sun or a tanning lamp), it penetrates the tissues of your skin. In the skin are located melanocytes, which are cells that produce melanin. Melanin is the pigment that causes your skin to darken. The exposure to UV radiation activates melanocytes to produce more melanin. The more melanin that is present in your skin, the darker pigment it will become.
Benefits
Both natural sun tanning and tanning beds have benefits. For example, tanning beds produce less UVB rays than UVA rays. According to the World Health Organization, UVB rays are more associated with the development of skin cancer, although more research is surfacing that UVA rays may also contribute to cancer development. Natural sunlight exposes you to much more UVB rays. Tanning beds can also be used any time during the year. Natural sun tans are more effective during warmer months, such as in late spring and summer. As far as costs, natural tanning is free to anyone with access to the outdoors. Tanning beds can vary in cost depending on where they are located.
Misconceptions
Although research on the harmful effects of spending too much time in the sun has been available for over a decade, research regarding the harmful effects of tanning beds is still fairly new. Unfortunately, this has led to the misconception that tanning beds are a completely safe alternative to traditional sun tanning. According to the National Cancer Institute, long term exposure to UV radiation through tanning beds increases the risk of developing cancer for both men and women. According to the Food and Drug Administration, these risks can be increased by not wearing tanning goggles or spending enough time on the bed to develop a sunburn.
Warning
Both tanning in the sun and tanning through tanning beds create the risk for cancer. Although tanning beds block most of the more harmful UVB rays provided by the sun, both UVA and UVB radiation provide unnecessary risks for developing cancer. Instead, the National Cancer Institute recommends using spray tanning services or sunless tanning products to darken your skin tone. These provide the same look of tanning without the associated risks.
