Are tanning beds safe?
Tanning beds are often touted as a ""safe alternative"" to the sun
because they use mainly UVA radiation, which is less likely to cause
sunburn than UVB. The fact is, all UV radiation is harmful to the skin,
whether it comes from the sun or a tanning bed. While UVB is the major
cause of sunburn, UVA light in excessive quantities can also eventually
burn you.
Furthermore, both UVA and UVB are responsible for cataracts
and premature aging of the skin. Over time, they create wrinkles,
sagging, liver spots, and a leathery texture. Though UVB is most
closely associated with basal- and squamous- (SKWAY-muhs) cell skin
cancers, doctors suspect that UVA light may also play a role in skin
cancer.
UVA is known to penetrate deeper into the skin, impairing the
skin's immune system and damaging blood vessels. The important thing to
remember is that there's no such thing as a safe tan. The release of
melanin pigment that we call tanning is your body's attempt to protect
itself against UV light. Therefore, the presence of a tan indicates
that the skin has already been damaged.
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