Our vitamin D levels can become depleted in winter due to limited sunlight. Vitamin D is important for calcium and phosphorus absorption in the body, staving off osteoporosis and other ailments. Tanning beds may contribute towards getting this essential hit of vitamin D that you need to stay healthy.
Sunlight is also essential for your bone health, as it helps your body produce vitamin D, a nutrient that helps your body absorb calcium and phosphorus, which are needed for strong bones. Sunbeds can help you maintain your vitamin D levels over winter when there is less natural UV light.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects millions of Americans, but hopping into a tanning bed won't help. Here's why visible light therapy is a safer, more effective way to ease symptoms.
How often should you use a tanning bed? If you're new to tanning beds, you should start with 2-3 sessions per week. Once you've achieved your desired tan, maintenance sessions of 1-2 times per week are usually more than enough.
Getting enough vitamin D from tanning beds isn't possible.
The bulbs used in tanning beds emit mostly UVA light; however, your body needs UVB light to make vitamin D. To get vitamin D safely, board-certified dermatologists recommend that healthy adults get vitamin D from their diet.
Both UVA and UVB have health benefits, and man has evolved to take advantage of both. Examples to follow. Active Sun Exposure: Lower Risk of Venous Thrombotic Events (Blood Clots)? summer, on winter vacations, or when abroad, or used a tanning bed, were at 30% lower risk of VTE than those who did not.
Sun exposure helps, but in the fall and winter months when there might be less sunlight, people tend to be more deficient. The typical adult needs 800 international units of vitamin D per day, which roughly translates to 15 to 30 minutes of good, direct sunlight.
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.
The harmful UV radiation is still present, and significantly increases risk of developing skin cancer, especially melanoma. Even though the sun might feel less intense during the winter, UV rays are still strong enough to damage skin, and tanning beds amplify that damage.
Avoid using harsh or fragranced products immediately after tanning, as they may further irritate the skin.
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.
If you're like most people with SAD , your symptoms start in the fall and continue into the winter months, sapping your energy and making you feel moody. These symptoms often resolve during the spring and summer months.
Maximize Sunlight Exposure. While the sun might not be as intense in fall and winter, it's still a valuable source of vitamin D and a natural tan. Whenever possible, spend time outdoors, especially during peak sunlight hours. Go for a walk, have a picnic, or simply enjoy a warm drink on your porch.
Like UV irradiation, which generates vitamin D(3) in the skin, the hormonally active metabolite, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3), boosts innate immunity against viruses and bacteria. Epidemiologic studies have found high vitamin D levels to be associated with lower risk of infections of the upper respiratory tract (colds).
“I encourage all my models to avoid sunbeds as they dry out your skin, cause premature ageing and wrinkles, can often burn, and are extremely carcinogenic.
Not only does the use of sunbeds during winter months increase Vitamin D levels and combat Seasonal Affective Disorder. Exposure to UV can aid in a healthy sleep cycle. Sunbeds help the body regulate the hormones serotonin and melatonin, which aid in healthy sleep cycles.
Limit The Exposure of Skin to the Sunlight. If you are wondering how to avoid skin darkening in winter, you should limit your contact with sunlight. It would help if you covered more of your skin in winter; this will protect your skin against strong air and sunlight.
UV radiation is generally highest between 10 AM and 3 PM, during the summer, on a cloudless day. Some countries broadcast a UV index for each day on the weather report. However, this does not mean that a scorching hot sunny day is the best day to get a tan.
For instance, individuals with fair to medium skin tones may achieve satisfactory results in approximately 6 minutes on a sunbed. However, it's crucial to adjust the duration based on skin sensitivity and tanning goals.
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.
Is 30 minutes a day enough to tan? It depends on your skin type. Those with fair skin likely need a bit longer, while people with darker skin may only require 15-20 minutes daily. Start slow and gently build UV skin tolerance over multiple sessions for the best color development.
Time of day – The sun's rays vary in intensity throughout the day. In most places, UV rays are strongest between about 10am and 4pm, when the sun is at its peak. [5] If you go outside during that interval, your body will make more vitamin D in less time than if you went out in the early morning or late afternoon.
Vitamin D deficiency was widespread in the U.K. Biobank cohort, particularly among non-White people. More specifically, about 50% of Asians, 33% of Black individuals, and 12% of Whites were vitamin D deficient.
Health effects of vitamin D toxicity
The main concern of vitamin D toxicity is a buildup of calcium in the blood. This is called hypercalcemia. Hypercalcemia can cause upset stomach and vomiting, weakness, and frequent urination. It also can lead to bone pain and kidney troubles such as kidney stones.