Your Skin Under A Home Tanning Light – The Real Truth
Many people have bought and still buy home tanning lights that they can use for their face and body to get a tan. The lights can come in the form of a full-blown tanning bed or as a specialized home tanning light you can use in any light socket. If you read a few websites they will say that tanning lamps, when properly used, are a good alternative to sun bathing. But we know now that sun-bathing can be bad for your skin. So what is actually happening to your skin if you decide to expose yourself to these rays indoors?
We have to mention that we at SafeTanning.org are not doctors or health professionals, so if you want medical advice about this you should seek this out for yourself. What we can explain to you though is the process that your skin goes through when you are exposed to one of these lights.
When ultraviolet (UV) radiation hits your skin, it reacts by darkening the cells in the upper part to protect the deeper layers from any damage.
The UV rays actually hit melanocytes which produce more melanin and this produces the ‘tanned’ look. The real problem with this is that exposure to the sun or solariums can cause irreversible damage to the skin cells. Actual sunburn can kill cells altogether, and this can start off the process of a melanoma growing. This is the start of skin cancer, which can be deadly.
There are actually 3 types of UV radiation from the sun:
- UVA
- UVB, and
- UVC
Most of the radiation that actually hits the earth is UVA, which causes premature ageing of the skin and skin cancer. There is also some UVB from the sun which is even more dangerous, causing further problems like cataracts in the eyes.
So you think you are safer out of the sun and under tanning lights at home, or a solarium? Well actually, the World Health Organisation says that you are not. Sunbeds and the like also emit UVA and UVB radiation, so there is the same or an even greater risk of skin damage than exposure to the sun. It can be a greater risk as in the case of a tanning bed, your skin is being exposed where it may not be, say if you were sun baking at the beach or pool.
Many government web sites now say that no tan is a healthy tan, and you should enjoy being pale, but you don’t have to go that far to be safe. There is absolutely no reason why you can’t use some of the better tanning lotions out on the market now, and you can get yourself a ‘great tan’ at home that is absolutely healthy.
Now you know about some of the dangers of using solarium type lights, whether at home or using a professional solarium, and we hope that you will consider what is really happening to your skin and the hidden dangers involved. Please have a read of our other articles on SafeTanning.org for great advice on alternatives to exposing yourself to UV radiation.
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