The process where skin pigmentation is darkened due to exposure to the ultraviolet light rays is known as “Tanning”. The tanning process of skin is generally of two types. One is immediate tanning and the other is delayed tanning. The immediate tanning is caused by the Ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation of sunlight which appears just a short time after the sunbathing and usually lasts only a few hours or days. The delayed tanning is the response to the Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation of sunlight and usually appears 2-3 days after the sunbathing and lasts longer with the natural renewal of skin. The intensity of the tanning varies as it depends upon the type of skin.

Indoor Tanning Process and Devices

Indoor tanning has become very popular and just like regular tanning should include indoor tanning lotion. A clamshell like tanning bed is used as the tanning salon equipment in most of the tanning bed salons. Customers have to lie down on a plexiglass surface where the tanning bed lamps from above and below reach the customers body. The latest high tech tanning beds are called stand up tanning beds and don’t require a person to lay down on plexiglass.

Most of the older tanning devices used the light sources that emitted short wave Ultraviolet B rays. These UVB radiation actually caused a burning sensation, hence the need for tanning bed lotions. The salon owners began using the tanning beds that emit mostly long wave Ultraviolet A rays from the light sources as the UVB radiation has many harmful effects. The UVA rays cause less burning than the UVB rays.

The harmful side effects of Tanning

The indoor tanning is very much responsible for the damages of our skin because of the emitting of ultraviolet rays. When the skin produces an additional pigment to protect against burning from ultraviolet rays at that time the tanning occurs. Eye injury, skin rashes and even skin cancer might develop due to the overexposure to the UV rays.

The ultra violet radiations from the sun and tanning bed lamps are most widely known to be responsible for skin cancer. UV rays have been known to even damage the immune system causing premature aging or wrinkling of the skin.

Now a day’s public health experts and medical teams are warning people from the dangers of the ultraviolet rays of the sun and tanning bed lamps. The UVB ray is associated with sunburn and is considered a deeper penetrating ray. According to some scientists there may be an association between the UVA radiation and the malignant melanoma which is a very serious type of skin cancer of which case a health care provider may be needed.

Indoor tanning lotion sales have been skyrocketing but with continual warnings from government health officials we could begin to see a trend to the more natural skin color look. The advancement of tanning bed lotions and tanning salon equipment in recent years has made indoor tanning a regular activity for many. You might want to consider the long term effects compared to the short term gains before attempting continual tanning for yourself.

Many people use indoor tanning to better prepare their body for a vacation to a favorite hot spot. This is actually quite smart as it better prepares your body for the increased exposure and can avoid a sun burn that may ruin a perfectly good holiday.

People generally love to have a great tan. That bronzed look says to many that you have time to spend in the sun, relaxing, gathering rays, which is turn seems to say “success” to many because you have the kind of leisure time to do that. A good even tan makes you look healthy. But is a tan really healthy? It CAN be but it needs to be done correctly so that underneath that killer tan you are not doing damage to your skin.

Tanning occurs when the skin produces additional pigment (coloring) to protect itself against burn from these ultraviolet rays. Natural sunlight and the ultra-violet lamps in tanning beds produce these UV rays. With tanning beds you can avoid sun’s harmful effects from the mildest ones to the harshest such as wrinkles, freckles, skin discolorations, and even skin cancer.

In reality, a tan indicates a skin “problem”. There is still the opportunity to be concerned about skin damage when using a tanning bed, but there are several steps you can take to minimize that risk. You don’t want the trade-off for a great tan to be premature aging of the skin or wrinkles, but the proper use of a tanning bed with knowledge of what you are doing can minimize (although not eliminate) the hazards and risks.

The UV rays used by the tanning bed lamps have been found to enforce the production of vitamin D in the skin. This works in the same way that direct exposure to the sun’s rays will. The UV rays, particularly the UVB type, are responsible for stimulating the production of melanin, which is a naturally occurring skin pigment.

The type of tanning bed that you typically see in both residential and commercial places like a tanning salon are horizontal tanning beds. These range in price from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on various factors such as the intensity of the UV lamps, and extra features such as a fan to keep you cool while you are tanning, and even a radio or CD player so you can listen to music while you use it.

Whether a commercial or residential model, tanning beds emit a mixture of ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation to produce a bronzed look on white skin. In other words, the ultra violet light used by the UV lamps in a tanning bed is almost exactly the same kind of ultra violet light that comes from the sun. What this means is that the same risks can occur. Yes, without proper protection, you can get a sunburn from tanning bed use, and it will be every bit as painful.

For optimal results, your best bet is to talk with the professional at the tanning salon, or for a residential model, read the owner’s manual from front to back before you even plug the unit in. Understand the proper usage and the proper length of time to use it. You can maximize your tanning efforts by the use of various tanning lotions, which also have the added benefit of helping to protect your skin to the maximum level possible.