Tanning Beds and Indoor Tanning Keep Gaining Traction
Tanning beds are cosmetic devices that use ultraviolet flight to to produce a tan-like skin reaction, without the use of lotions or tanning bronzers. Non-commercial tanning beds include a varying number of phosphor bulbs that create UV light; depending on the size of the device, the number of lamps varies, with commercial beds having more lamps. Very specialized tanning beds use quartz lamps instead of phosphor lamps, but they also require a combination of filters and reflectors for showing efficiency.
As the name implies, tanning beds call for the user to assume a lying position, as opposed to tanning booths where users must stand. One other major difference between tanning beds and booths is the higher power output generated by the latter.
Indoor tanning is subject to heated debates at present, as the World Health Organization warns against the use of such devices for cosmetic purposes. To illustrate the level of damage tanning beds can cause it suffices to say that one cannot use the device without goggles. Negligence to respect this safety procedure could trigger very serious health problems. One of the more severe side effects of tanning beds is skin cancer, as you might assume. Statistics show that applications of tanning beds vary in various parts of the globe, and the gap comes from the technical peculiarity of the devices. Americans seem to like indoor tanning more than Europeans, and the tanning beds they rely on usually emit more UVB light than those used in Europe.
Tanning beds should not be used in combination with open sun exposure given the high risk of developing sunburn. The risk results from the fact that tanning beds do not influence the formation a deep base tan, and once you get on the beach, the deepest skin layers would be defenseless to the aggressive action of the sun rays. Outdoor and indoor tanning could be alternated but with some time lapse in between. Moreover, the use of protective lotions and sunscreens remains a must; the element that could vary under the circumstances is the ultraviolet protection factor.
