You may think that hitting the tanning bed provides a quick easy bronze looking glow. This is true, but there are some long term effects you need to be aware of.
As I’m sure everyone has heard by now overexposure to UV radiations from both the sun and tanning beds can damage skin cells and potentially lead to several types of skin cancer, including the deadly melanoma! More than 1,000,000 people in North America are diagnosed with skin cancer each year! Tanning beds are even more damaging to the skin than the sun because they emit more UV radiation than the sun and can damage the skin in a shorter period of time.
Repeated exposure to UV rays causes the skin to become thick and leathery, which will lead to wrinkles and premature aging. UV can also damage your eyes, leading to cataracts and other eye diseases. Damage does not necessarily show up immediately but even one bad burn or overindulgence can lead to damage years in the future!
Sunscreen will for sure help to a point, but most people do not wear enough or reapply during the day to provide enough protection from the harmful UV rays. The only safe way to tan is to use a bottled bronzer for your glow and avoid the UV rays as much as you can.
