Q. Are Tanning Salons Safe?
A.
While there are going to be a lot of people who won't agree with me, I'm going to take a stand. I really don't believe they are safe. Here's why...
- I don't believe that a thin layer of plexiglass is going to protect you from the ultraviolet rays that are directed at you. And often, the UVA rays that you are absorbing are more potent than those you would find out of doors.
- If you are like me, you might be under the impression that salons only use UVA rays for tanning purposes which meant that you would not burn. But according to American Academy of Dermatology, this is not the case. Most bulbs used at salons emit UVA and small amounts of UVB rays. It is also believed that this is contributing to a variety of cancers.
- According to Nicholas Lowe, author of Skin Secrets, using a tanning bed will not offer the limited amount of protection that a little sun will provide. Here is how he explains it. The melanin that is produced by a limited exposure of the sun will offer a little protection... although you had to damage your skin to get it. The UVA rays used with tanning beds does not work in the same way. Natural sun will cause the skin to thicken and that is where the protection comes into play. The UVA rays used in a salon has no effect on the thickening of the skin.
- Neil Izenberg, MD also believes the amount of UVA rays that are emited are very dangerous and advises that teens stay away from the salons.
Source: Kidshealth.org
- And if all of the above hasn't been enough to scare you away, Sid Kirchheimer, a health and medical writer and editor for two decades, believes that by visiting a salon once a month could increase your chances of cancer by fifty five percent. Are you willing to take the chance?
Source: Webmd.com
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