People who desire a bronzed look may turn to indoor tanning for seemingly sun-kissed skin. However, the risks of indoor tanning far outweigh the cosmetic benefits. Indoor tanning beds and sun lamps emit ultraviolet, or UV, radiation that can be a detriment to your health, especially if you’re exposed to it for a significant amount of time. In fact, the amount of UV radiation emitted by tanning beds is far larger than the amount emitted by the sun, making the risk of damage significantly higher with indoor tanning.
There are several risks associated with indoor tanning, including:
Skin Cancer
The most notable risk of indoor tanning is skin cancer. UV radiation exposure is the main risk factor in developing skin cancer. So, just like UV radiation from the sun, UV radiation from indoor tanning can seriously increase your chance of getting skin cancer.
Indoor tanning has been linked to squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma, which are two types of skin cancer. Melanoma is the most deadly type of skin cancer. Using tanning beds, especially before the age of 35, significantly increases the risk of melanoma.
Early Skin Aging
In addition to upping your risk of skin cancer, indoor tanning can lead to premature aging. Premature aging occurs when the skin loses structure, elasticity, and moisture due to UV damage. This can cause wrinkles, fine lines, age spots, and discoloration before one would expect to see signs of skin aging. So, while you may want bronzed skin now, you should consider the long-term cosmetic drawbacks of tanning bed use.
Eye Problems
UV radiation from indoor tanning can lead to irreversible eye damage. Macular degeneration, dry eye, cataracts, blurry vision, and even eye cancer have been linked to indoor tanning. Your vision is far more precious than a tanned complexion, making it important to avoid indoor tanning for your eye health.
The Bowman Institute specializes in skin cancer evaluations and treatment. If you’ve previously undergone indoor tanning and want to get an evaluation for skin cancer, contact us today to schedule an appointment.