Sunbed Risks

Tanned skin is frequently portrayed as being more attractive than fair skin. To that end, many people use tanning beds to try to get darker skin incorrectly assuming that because they don't notice any immediate harmful effects on their skin, that there won't be any in the future. However, there are many risks that should be considered before using a tanning bed.

Sunburn

• Sunburn occurs when you expose your skin to too much UV radiation from the sun or tanning beds. Sunburn develops easier on people who have light skin because they have less melanin to block the UV rays from damaging their skin. Sunburn causes the skin to turn pink or red and painful when touched. In severe cases the skin may blister. The top layer of the damaged skin will usually begin to peel off within a few days of the initial sunburn.

Skin Cancer

• The biggest concern with using a tanning bed is that it may cause skin cancer. Skin cancer can develop anywhere on the skin, but the chances of developing skin cancer on any area of your skin are increased as it is exposed to more UV radiation.

Eye Damage

• Another problem that people develop from using tanning beds is eye damage. Cataracts in the eye are the most common type of eye damage from tanning beds and can be caused when your eyes are exposed to excessive amounts UV radiation. It causes the lens of your eye to lose transparency which makes your vision become cloudy, and may even cause you to go blind. Wearing tanning goggles drastically reduces the chances of developing eye problems because they block most of the UV radiation from reaching your eyes.

Premature Skin Aging

• Using a sunbed may also cause premature aging of their skin. Wrinkles become more defined and the skin appears leathery.