Dangers of Using Tanning Beds
Although tanning beds have become increasingly popular over the
last ten years or so, there is a great deal of danger associated
with them. Many people may be aware of the harmful effects of
tanning, yet have the classic mentality that it won't happen to
them. Other people just can't imagine themselves being old
enough to have a disease such as cancer. However, the fact is
that everyone gets old, and skin cancer is becoming more and
more common among adults as young as 20. While spending a
moderate amount of time in the sun is essential to a person's
health, extended periods of time spent baking in the sun,
especially without the use of sunscreen has many harmful
effects. The little amount of time that is spent in a tanning
bed has even greater effects on a person because of the high
levels of ultra-violent rays.
Spending time in tanning beds
contributes to premature aging of the skin, including wrinkles,
age-spots and dryness. More seriously they can cause cancer of
the skin because the high intensity rays that cause breaks in
DNA and mutations in cells. The carcinogenic agents found in
tanning bed rays also lower your immune system. There is also an
increased risk of sun burn while using tanning beds, which can
be painful and increase your risk of skin disease. If you are
heart set on having a tan all year round, you should consider
using the spray on or gel tanners, which are completely safe and
the color can last up to a week. However, you should stay away
from the oral ingestion of tanning pills, because they have
recently been linked to liver disease.