Harm From Tanning Beds

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Recommended: Negative effects of tanning beds

It is no secret that the sun can be just as harmful as it is beneficial. While we rely on the sun for energy and vitamin D, we are receiving strong ultraviolet rays that burn the skin and can lead to skin-related cancers, such as melanoma. Realizing the potential dangers that harbor in exposure to sunlight, many people have sought an alternative to achieve a tan. The most popular alternative today is the tanning bed. Artificial ultraviolet light, found in sun lamps and tanning beds, can provide the same UV rays found in sunlight. These UV rays mimic the effects the sun has on skin. Even though these beds emit the same UV rays that the sun does, many people prefer to tan indoors, convinced that tanning in a salon is much safer than tanning outdoors. Because tanning beds have the ability to emit certain rays to achieve a faster tan, they are certainly more convenient and their popularity is increasing rapidly.
Approximately 20 million Americans patronize tanning salons on a regular basis, bringing in about five million dollars annually for these salons (Robb-Nicholson). If tanning salons are so popular, then they must not be so bad, right? Unfortunately, skin cancer is the most diagnosed type of cancer in the U.S., meaning that artificial and natural sunlight are both contributing to this growing problem (Vanhoy). While efforts to seek a healthy sun exposure may be far fetched, the debate between the danger of artificial UV light compared to natural sunlight can be broken down to find the true underlying cause of the ongoing skin cancer epidemic. Are tanning beds a safer alternative to natural sunlight exposure, or do they pose even greater risks for health problems?
Because prolonged exposure to sunlight is the lead...

... middle of paper ...

...afest thing to do concerning skin health would be to avoid tanning beds altogether.

Works Cited
“The Addictive Nature of Constant Bronzing.” USA Today Dec. 2011 140:2799 12-13.
Levine, Hallie. “A Killer Tan.” Prevention 56:5 (May 2004). Academic Search Elite. Web. 23 November 2013.
Rivers, Jason K. “Is There More Than One Road to Melanoma?” The Lancet 363:9410 (February 2004): 728-730. Web. 20 November 2013.
Robb-Nicholson, Celeste. “By The Way, Doctor. Does Tanning In A Tanning Bed Cause Less Damage Than Natural Sunlight?” Harvard Women’s Health Watch 17:1 (September 2009): 8. Medline. Web. 23 November 2013.
Vanhoy, Kendra. “Don’t Fake Bake.” Teen Ink 15:10 (June 2004): 8. Points of View Reference Center. Web. 17 November 2013.
Zoler, Mitchel L. "Prom Tanning in 90s Blamed For Melanoma Spike.” Skin & Allergy News 2011:18. Academic OneFile. Web. 19 November 2013.

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