Dangers of Tanning Booths

The advantages of tanning booths are numerous, but also know the dangers of artificial tanning

Yes, the advantages of tanning booths re numerous, but you need to know the dangers of artificial tanning and the dangers of sun tanning booths are real.

A little history on the sport of tanning. For more than 400 years, humans have worshipped the sun. It was believed to hold the powers to growing healthy crops.

As the years passed and classes began to appear in society, skin became the visible class identifier. Those with pale skin belonged to the upper class. Where as those with tanned skin belonged to the working class and those that worked the fields.

In fact, it was so important for upper class women to have porcelain white skin they would go to great lengths to ensure no color was apparent. They would paint their skin with various compounds, some containing lead there were highly hazardous. They would never go outside without carrying a large parasol to protect them from the suns rays.

It wasn’t until the 20th century that society began to accept tanned skin. The French are to thank for this change in attitude. All of a sudden it was fashionable and feminine to have a golden tan.

Women could now be found tanning on beaches, they would even apply cosmetics that would darken the skin. Now the wealthy class was separated from the working class by those who had a tan in the winter months. The wealthy could afford vacations to tropical destinations to ensure they stayed tanned and buff.

In the late 1970s sunscreen hit the market. It’s job was to protect the sun worshippers against skin cancer. By 1988 the scientific and medical communities believed there was no safe way to tan, and although sun screen was a good tool if not used correctly a person was still at risk.

And then tanning beds hit the scene, claiming to be safer than tan from the sun. So indoor tanning became the rave. In recent years studies are showing that tanning beds are not safer and they too have health risk.

Today we are being warned that tanning beds also have health risks associated with them.

Eye damage can occur to the retina if eyes are not properly protected. Skin ages fast, wrinkles develop, and an overall leathery appearance develops for overexposure to UV rays. Immune systems can be damaged, and skin disorders can develop.

But most worrying, is the rise in skin cancer, especially the deadly melanoma. As the number of people using tanning beds increases so does the number o skin cancer cases. This year alone in the United States, there will be over 1 million new cases diagnosed, with 95% related to sun exposure.

Now all that said, we must remember that UV rays are also beneficial. As with any thing, moderation is the key. Do not overexpose your skin to UV rays, do not get a burn under any circumstance, use sunscreen with a minimum SPF 15, stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluid, and wear proper tanning goggles all the time.

With some common sense we can stay safe and still develop that beautiful golden tan that many of us live for.

negative effects of tanning beds