Guide to Tanning Beds
Many years ago, if you had a suntan, it meant you were probably an outdoor worker or you spent hours out by the pool getting sun.
Today, everywhere you go it seems people are walking around with bronzed tanned skin, made easier by a quick trip to tanning beds, whether it was a trip to a tanning salon or just tanning at their home.
Technology has come a long way in a short time to be able to replicate an outdoor tan, giving people help in the pursuit of the perfect body, replacing sun with UV light emitting from special light bulbs inside tanning beds.
There are two basic designs for the beds.
The most common looks like a bed with a clam like shaped shell or capsule.
The second type is not a bed but more like a booth, also called a "stand up".
It has the same concept as a tanning bed, except you stand in a vertical booth instead of laying horizontally.
The older or more traditional tanning beds come with both UVA and UVB light bulbs.
These are the same rays given off by the sun.
Research has shown over the past 10 years or so that UVB rays can be harmful.
Remember this when checking out a tanning salon and ask them what types of tanning beds they have.
Most tanning salons have now upgraded or switched to beds that offer more UVA rays and little to no UVB rays.
UVA are considered less harmful than UVB rays because they can reach the deep layers of the skin and not cause damage to the top layers.
Long periods of exposure to UVB rays can lead to cancer, burns and can in some cases cause harm to the immune system.
The benefit of using a tanning salon compared to tanning outside is it is a much safer dose of ultraviolet light.
When you are outdoors, because of a variety of factors, you have no control over the ultraviolet light that your body is getting.
Inside, temperatures will reach roughly 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
You should spend no more than 20 minutes in a tanning bed.
Some tanning beds come in with a built-in time limit, in essence giving you a 10 or 15 minute tanning session.
Whatever the time limit is, leave as soon as the time is over.
Staying longer puts you at risk for potential damage to your skin, immune system and eyes.
Today, everywhere you go it seems people are walking around with bronzed tanned skin, made easier by a quick trip to tanning beds, whether it was a trip to a tanning salon or just tanning at their home.
Technology has come a long way in a short time to be able to replicate an outdoor tan, giving people help in the pursuit of the perfect body, replacing sun with UV light emitting from special light bulbs inside tanning beds.
There are two basic designs for the beds.
The most common looks like a bed with a clam like shaped shell or capsule.
The second type is not a bed but more like a booth, also called a "stand up".
It has the same concept as a tanning bed, except you stand in a vertical booth instead of laying horizontally.
The older or more traditional tanning beds come with both UVA and UVB light bulbs.
These are the same rays given off by the sun.
Research has shown over the past 10 years or so that UVB rays can be harmful.
Remember this when checking out a tanning salon and ask them what types of tanning beds they have.
Most tanning salons have now upgraded or switched to beds that offer more UVA rays and little to no UVB rays.
UVA are considered less harmful than UVB rays because they can reach the deep layers of the skin and not cause damage to the top layers.
Long periods of exposure to UVB rays can lead to cancer, burns and can in some cases cause harm to the immune system.
The benefit of using a tanning salon compared to tanning outside is it is a much safer dose of ultraviolet light.
When you are outdoors, because of a variety of factors, you have no control over the ultraviolet light that your body is getting.
Inside, temperatures will reach roughly 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
You should spend no more than 20 minutes in a tanning bed.
Some tanning beds come in with a built-in time limit, in essence giving you a 10 or 15 minute tanning session.
Whatever the time limit is, leave as soon as the time is over.
Staying longer puts you at risk for potential damage to your skin, immune system and eyes.
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