Are Tanning Beds Bad

Are Tanning Beds Bad? The Facts.

Are tanning beds bad for your health? This is the question that has been being asked for many years. The tanning bed dangers that led the American Medical Association (AMA) to call for a ban on the sale and use of tanning beds, booths, and other indoor tanning methods for non-medical purposes in 1994 are considerable.

The fact that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) disagreed with the AMA and refused to issue such a ban (instead the FTC decreed that the equipment may be sold and used for cosmetic purposes only) doesn’t negate the harmful effects of tanning beds, but does indicate that, with proper safety precautions, the dangers of tanning beds can be controlled and minimized.

Still, people need to be aware of the tanning bed dangers and risks involved when using these methods of sunless tanning. So, are tanning beds “bad?” Probably not, but people should be aware of the potential risks involved with the use of tanning beds and other such tanning equipment.


The Dangers of Sun Tanning Booths & Beds

There are several potential harmful effects of tanning beds and booths, but the chief concern that led the AMA to call for their ban was that of skin cancer. When asking “are tanning beds bad?” the possibility of serious illness is one to take into consideration. Ultraviolet radiation has long been known to cause the disease, as well as a number of lesser problems which include eye damage, cataracts, and premature aging of the skin.


When people use an indoor tanning method, they are exposing themselves to as much as three times the amount of UV rays as produced naturally by the sun. For this reason it is very important that strict guidelines regarding both the length of time one spends in one of these machines as well as the number of sessions in a short period of time be strictly adheres to.

Spending too much time in a booth or bed protected only by a towel and a pair of UV resistant goggles is far more dangerous than falling asleep under a sun lamp or lying on the beach all day without the benefit of sunscreen supplies.

Are tanning beds bad for you? With proper supervision and adherence to the rules, the dangers of sun tanning booths & beds can be lessened. The indoor tanning industry would have you believe that tanning is actually healthy because the production of melanin, the brown pigment that makes us tan in the sun is shown to protect the skin to a certain degree from UV rays.

Doctors disagree with this assessment, but it is clear that following safety precautions will reduce tanning bed dangers. The real answer to the elusive question is fairly obvious. Tanning beds are not “bad” any more than an automobile is bad. If an automobile is misused, it can become an instrument of death, pain, and loss.

If it is used properly and responsibly, it will get you where you want to go. Misuse of a tanning bed can result in severe health problems, but proper and responsible use will do nothing more than get you nicely tanned. Are tanning beds bad? Nope.

About the Author

Abe Gardea is a full-time freelance writer and a contributor to http://tanning-beds-n-tanning-lotions.com.

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