Tanning salons are becoming increasingly popular in the US and other countries. Tanning beds are often claimed to be dangerous for people because they imitate ultraviolet radiation, which consists of particles called photons, and increase one’s risk of skin cancer. Many people, however, still believe in the therapeutic, or, at the very least, the harmless effect of that desirable glow, and continue visiting tanning salons regularly. While tanning is sometimes said to have a positive effect on health, such as producing vitamin D, it can still cause skin cancer and has more dangers than benefits.
Tanning beds and indoor tanning, in general, are often discussed as being less dangerous in comparison to outdoor tanning. This information, however, is mostly provided by the brands and shops of different tanning salons. For example, according to Artesian Tan, a supplier of sunless tan products, sunless tanning can reduce the risk of cancer. Dismissing the research on the connection between skin cancer and tanning, they focus on “one of the major benefits of indoor tanning, which is the boost of vitamin D” (Artesian Tan, 2018, par. 5). Among other benefits, they list hormonal balance, healthy oil production, and reducing the risk of skin anomalies, such as acne, psoriasis, etc.
Unfortunately, the benefits of tanning beds are not supported by the research, while the dangers have been proved many times. First, on the electromagnetic spectrum, UV radiation lies between visible light and X-rays, which means that it carries more energy than the former. Two of the three types of UV radiation, UVA and UVB, are “emitted by most tanning beds” and “have long been recognized as carcinogenic” (Wertich & Weaver, 2019, para. 9). Second, “UV radiation is not the only source of vitamin D”; dietary supplements, as well as fortified foods, can provide sufficient amounts of vitamin D (Wertich & Weaver, 2019, para. 11). That way, people do not have to expose themselves to the risk of skin cancer and other dangerous conditions.
In the end, it all comes to the choices every person makes concerning their health habits. “Moderation in everything” is a good tactic to stick to, but activities that have been proved to be risky for one’s health should better be avoided. Not all tanning salons use the technologies that allow controlling the amount of UV radiation that people receive, so it cannot yet be stated that there is a safe way to use tanning beds.
References
Artesian Tan. (2018). 7 benefits of indoor tanning. Web.
Wertich, L., & Weaver, C. H. (2019). An unhealthy glow – The truth about tanning beds. CancerConnect.