Several health benefit claims such as improved appearance, enhanced mood, and increased vitamin D levels have been attributed to tanning. Furthermore, the Indoor Tanning Association claims that “catching some rays may lengthen your life” [5].
Health impact
Sunbed use was linked to a 23 per cent lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease and a 14 per cent lower risk of death from cancer, compared to non-users.
Vitamin D Synthesis: UVB rays stimulate vitamin D production in the skin, which is linked to improved immune function and reduced inflammation. Nitric Oxide Release: UVA exposure triggers the release of nitric oxide, leading to vasodilation and lower blood pressure—key factors in cardiovascular health.
Ten minutes in a sunbed can be roughly equivalent to 1-2 hours in natural sunlight, depending on factors like sunbed intensity and skin type. However, this varies widely based on geographical location, time of day, and weather conditions. Always adhere to recommended exposure times to minimise skin damage risks.
According to Dr. Peter Katz, board-certified dermatologist with Forefront Dermatology, “there is no such thing as a healthy or safe tan. Tanned skin is a result of damage to the skin cells, your skin producing pigment in response to UV damage in an attempt to protect itself.
Tanning beds are NOT safer than the sun.
Science tells us that there's no such thing as a safe tanning bed, tanning booth, or sun lamp. Indoor tanning can increase the risk of developing the two most common types of skin cancer — squamous cell carcinoma by 58% and basal cell carcinoma by 24%.
Avoid using harsh or fragranced products immediately after tanning, as they may further irritate the skin.
no! A tanning bed will never provide you with the vitamin D that you need, nor is it safer than tanning outdoors. Not understanding the facts can literally mean the difference between life and death. Both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation cause cell damage that can lead to skin cancer.
Moderate tanning of 2-3 sessions a week is OK for everyone else but ensure you rest the skin for a minimum of 24 hours between each session and at least 48 hours for skin type 2. The European Standard advises not to exceed 60 sessions per annum.
Although using sunbeds can initially dry out the skin and reduce pimple production, this excessive drying may stimulate the skin to actually produce more oil to compensate. As the sebaceous glands in the skin develop more oil, pores are more likely to become clogged, leading to breakouts later down the line.
Indoor tanning is more addictive than you might think. The allure lies in the release of endorphins, the body's natural feel-good chemicals triggered by exposure to UV rays. When you're basking under those warm lights, your brain gets a surge of these mood-enhancing chemicals, creating a euphoric sensation.
Opt for sunless self-tanners or spray tans. These are available in many forms, including lotions, sprays, and creams. The Skin Cancer Foundation advocates that no tan is a safe tan, and that regardless of whether women decide to go with their own glow or use sunless tanning methods, they avoid UV tanning.
While different tanning beds emit variable amounts of UVB and UVA (varying in both the absolute flux and the ratio of UVB to UVA), there is extensive in vitro evidence that both UVA and UVB have anti-inflammatory effects (Tables 1, 2).
Using a sunbed to get a tan can give you skin damage, wrinkles and brown spots causing premature ageing.
Vitamin D is important to help maintain a healthy immune system, but using a sunbed isn't the way to achieve a boost. In fact, UV radiation from sunbeds can actually suppress your immune system and lead to health problems.
Health Benefits
Several health benefit claims such as improved appearance, enhanced mood, and increased vitamin D levels have been attributed to tanning. Furthermore, the Indoor Tanning Association claims that “catching some rays may lengthen your life” [5].
During the early stages of building up a base tan we recommend tanning frequently (twice a week) for no more than 6 minutes regardless of your skin type (not including skin type 1).
Indoor tanning speeds up skin aging
Indoor tanning is known to cause wrinkles, brown spots and thick leathery skin. Indoor tanning ages your skin 3 times faster than sunlight: indoor tanning can emit up to 15 times more UV radiation than sunlight.
So why is it still legal? In part, it's because the tanning bed industry has proponents that help protect it, and they spread harmful misinformation. One myth is that tanning beds help your body produce vitamin D. But most beds use bulbs that only emit ultraviolet A (UVA) rays, which don't affect vitamin D levels.
Why Wear Sunscreen in a Tanning Bed? Generally, sunscreen isn't necessary during tanning bed use. The exposure to UV rays is limited by time and the regulated levels of UVA and UVB light. Further, the SPF could hinder your tanning goals, requiring more sessions in the bed.
Unfortunately, using sunbeds for eczema is no silver bullet either, but research has shown that exposure to UV light may help reduce skin inflammation, thereby alleviating some of the dryness, itching, and rash that characterise eczema. One of the newer treatments for eczema is known as phototherapy.
No, you don't need to flip over in a tanning bed. In fact, many people tan stomach-down because it's more comfortable that way. However, if you want an evenly distributed tan, then you should flip over halfway through your session so that both sides of your body get equal exposure to the UV rays.
Many of our clients frequently use their phones whilst lying on a sunbed whilst still wearing the sunbed goggles. In the short term this is ok to do but the temperature, humidity and frequencies emitted by the beds may possibly cause damage to the electronics of your phone.