Tanning beds are just as dangerous as the sun’s rays
Tanning beds have been viewed as a magical contraption, keeping normally fair-skinned individuals golden throughout the winter months in Logan.
Some people claim such rituals are less harmful than actual sun rays. However, this theory may provide only a false sense of security to regulars of the tanning beds.
“Skin can’t differentiate between ultra-violet lights,” said Dr. James Davis, dermatologist and director of Utah State University’s Student Health Services. “So exposure to tanning beds is equally as dangerous as actual sun exposure to the skin.”
The ultra-violet rays found in both the sun and in tanning beds cause such problems as skin cancer, a loss of elasticity in the skin and change on the surface of the skin so it looks rough and older, Davis said. These symptoms of overexposure to ultra-violet rays may be enhanced in tanning beds because of the tendency to expose sensitive skin, he said.
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, tanning booths may be more dangerous than exposure to the sun, and it lists avoiding these booths as one of the foundation’s seven strategies to prevent skin cancer. The foundation also recommends individuals stay away from ultra-violet rays altogether, stressing sunscreen use, protective clothing and avoidance of exposure from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
One benefit of tanning salons is it is easier to monitor tanning time, Davis said. Also, if an individual is anticipating an increase in sun exposure, tanning beforehand can help prevent sunburn, he said. However, the best choice is always to use sunblock and avoid the ultra-violet rays altogether.
“Your skin is like a statue that is slowly chipped away at,” Davis said. “The more you expose it to ultra-violet rays, the more you chip away at it. Some days you chip a little, some days you chip a lot, but it all adds up.”
The effects of these rays are cumulative, Davis said. The earlier someone starts tanning, the earlier the symptoms start to show up, causing skin to look olde, which is usually the opposite of the desired effect, he said.
Skin cancer is one of the most prevalent forms of cancer in the United States, and also one of the most preventable, Davis said.
The value of a tan may not be worth the price of skin cancer in the future, Davis said. People need to evaluate what is more important.