Tanning Bed Hazard: Everything You Need To Know

Author: Robert Newsome

Tanning is a practice that many have enjoyed for years. The benefits of tanning can span from a healthy glow, to an increase in Vitamin D and visibly less symptoms for eczema and psoriasis.
Just as there are positive points to tanning, there are tanning bed hazards that everyone should know for their own protection.

Cover Your Eyes

One major tanning bed hazard that tends to be overlooked is the eyes. Your eyesight is one of the most significant sensory organs in your body and should be protected from any harm. Eye damage can exist as burnt corneas or even cataracts later on in life. Protective eyewear should be utilized when in a tanning bed or using a UV sunlamp. Specialized tanning goggles are the best form of preventative measures and are available at any salon where tanning is performed. If the tanning salon does not have eye protection then be very leery of their tanning
practices.

Protect Your Skin

Your skin should be protected from the extremes of tanning bed hazards. Abuse of tanning beds or over-exposure for a long period of time can cause skin cancer that may spread over the course of time. Always keep in mind the amount of time you expose your skin to UV rays, keeping the duration at a moderate level in order to avoid burning. Severe skin burns can increase the chances of skin cancer later on in life. The use of tanning lotions can help aid the skin in darkening without the risk of burning. It also can keep that healthy glow longer.

No Under 18's Allowed

There has been evidence to show that teenagers should avoid over-exposure to the sun or tanning beds due to their age and body composition. During the teen years, a child is growing at a rapid rate; therefore the skin cells are developing and dividing at a similar pace. If use of a tanning bed promotes the cells to produce more melanin than normal, it could affect these cells negatively and aid in the production of malignant melanoma or other types of skin cancer. To avoid this tanning bed hazard, teenagers are encouraged to make use of self-tanning creams or 'spray tans' if they wish to have a darker, healthier skin tone.

Check Your Medication

Certain medications can make a tanning bed user more susceptible to tanning bed hazards. The user's skin can be more sensitive to the UV rays therefore increasing the risks that are already apparent. Always check with your doctor before using tanning beds if you are taking medication that may increase your sensitivity to UV rays.

Tanning bed hazards have been known for years, but it is up to the user to whether or not they will acknowledge these warnings and protect themselves accordingly. The decisions you make today regarding your health can affect your body and life in the future. Once you educate yourself to the disadvantages you can make an informed decision to how you would like to use tanning beds today or in the near future.

About the author: To find out more about getting a commercial tanning bed visit http://www.tanningbedonlin e.com. Make sure you also check out the tanning bed alternative: Airbrush tanning systems.