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What Are the Risks of Tanning Booths?

Tanning booths are popular in today's culture, but the tropical hues obtained by tanning salon patrons can come at a steep price.

  1. Hazardous to Your Health

    • While patrons of tanning salons often look healthy and vibrant with their golden glows, scientific research has revealed that tanning beds are extremely hazardous to a person's overall health.

    Skin Cancer

    • The special lightbulbs used in tanning beds emit a specific spectrum of light and radiation known as UV, or ultraviolet. UV light is a known cause of malignancies of the skin, or skin cancers.

    Sunburn

    • For some individuals, burning of the skin by UV light is a concern. Overexposure to tanning beds can lead to red, blistery skin that is painful to the touch. This burning, especially when occurring repeatedly, also increases the likelihood of skin cancer.

    Eye Damage

    • The FDA states that cataracts, which are a cloudy discoloration of the eye's lens that can lead to blindness, and Photokeratitis, a burning of the cornea that can lead to damaged vision and blindness, are risks associated with tanning bed usage. These risks can be minimized by using approved tanning goggles, but human eyelids alone do not block out enough UV light to decrease the risk.

    Benign Skin Growths

    • Solar keratoses, or non-cancerous growths on the skin, are also associated with tanning bed use. These raised, sometimes-colored bumps have the potential to turn into cancer if left untreated.

    Premature Aging of the Skin

    • The harmful UV rays tanning beds emit can also contribute to premature aging of the skin. Wrinkles, dryness and loss of skin elasticity have been reported by frequent tanners.

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