Antique Sun Lamps

We've come along way with the new ultra bronze tanning beds, but there are still worries about skin cancer from tanning beds

For as long as man kind has been, the sun has held a special place in our lives. In just a few decades we’ve gone from antique sun lamps to ultra bronze tanning beds. But yet what we hear most, is the statistics of skin cancer from tanning beds.

Enjoying the sun has been a pastime for people of all ages for centuries. Today, it’s one of the few free pleasures left to enjoy. A day of relaxation at the beach, a swim in the ocean, or a day floating on your air mattress at the local lake, all provide a day of free entertainment!

There are sun worshippers young and old, from every walk of life, and every nationality. When summer arrives, you’ll find this group grinning from ear to ear. They are the lucky ones. They don’t burn, they turn a glorious golden brown in just a few hours of exposure, and they quite literally live for the summer.

But not every one is that lucky. Fair skinned people, red heads, and freckled bodied soles just have to think about going out in the sun and their skin turns a shade of pink. That doesn’t mean you still can’t get out and enjoy the sun for a short while. It means you have to be prepared with a high SPF sunscreen or sunblock are a must

• In the 1920’s sun therapy became very popular and it was prescribed by physicians for everything from tuberculosis to exhaustion. It was also during the 1920s that Coco Channel made tanning a fashion symbol. She appeared at fashion shows wearing not only the clothes but a gorgeous tan. Sun tanning had become a fashion statement!
  
• By the 1930s color film was hitting the screens. It didn’t take long before actors and actresses spent their free time basking in the sun, obtaining that glorious tan that looked so good on screen.
  
• By the late 1950s silver metallic UV reflectors where found everywhere. This was the latest and greatest way to enhance ones tan.
  
• The early 1960s saw cocoa butter tanning creams replace baby oil. In 1964 the movie Endless Summer was released taking the sport of tanning to new heights.
  
• The carefree youth of the 1970s brought demands for year round tans to the forefront. They wanted to be able to keep that vacation tan right through to the next vacation. The result was the development of the indoor tanning bed. In 1975 the first commercial tanning bed appeared on the market.
  
• By the 1980s indoor tanning salons were everywhere. In 1987 California Tan launched its first indoor tanning gel which dramatically enhanced the tan you got from a tanning bed.
  
• In 1991 Heliotherapy was introduced to the market. This was the medical version of indoor tanning used to treat both physical and psychological health issues. Dramatic improvements were seen in SAD patients.
  
• By 2000, indoor tanning had grown leaps and bounds. With all the warnings being attached to tanning in the sun, many felt indoor tanning a safer choice. Because indoor tanning was so affordable even the working class could afford to look good.

These days tanning beds are receiving the same health warnings as tanning with the sun. The link between skin cancer and tanning beds has been established in the medical and scientific community. No longer is it believed the indoor tanning is safer.

There are over 1 million new cases of skin cancer diagnosed each year in the United States. There are also over 60,000 new cases of the more deadly melanoma skin cancer. There has been a direct link established between the increase in use of tanning beds and skin cancer.

For the sun worshipper, that won’t stop them from getting that beautiful tan. Taking tanning away from a sun worshipper would be like taking a bottle away from a baby. It’s not going to happen without a big fight.

So the best advice is to tan smart. Don’t overdo your tanning sessions, use a sunscreen, and keep your skin moisturized and hydrated. With common sense you can have health and your beautiful tan!

Tanning Equipment