The Risks of Indoor Tanning

Many people have been led to believe that indoor tanning is the safe alternative to the harmful effects of the sun. They have been led in the wrong direction; there are just as many risks associated with indoor tanning as outdoor. In a typical indoor tanning session, you are bombarded with 15, 20, or 30 minutes of UVA radiation at wavelengths of 320-400 nanometers, about two to three times the UVA in normal sunlight.

Whether you tan outdoors in the summer or indoors all year round, you are increasing your chances of developing skin cancer later in life, suffering cataracts and retinal damage, developing premature skin wrinkling, and also developing ultraviolet light-induced skin rashes when you eat certain foods or take some common medications, such as birth control pills or antihistamines. By tanning exclusively indoors, you are also increasing your skin's exposure to the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays.

The Federal Trade Commission has compiled a group of false advertising claims regarding the practice of indoor tanning, in order to better inform consumers about the facts and myths surrounding this popular practice.

False Claim #1: "You can achieve a deep year-round tan with gentle, comfortable, and safe UVA light." Longwave ultraviolet rays, called UVA, penetrate the skin more deeply than shortwave ultraviolet rays (UVB), and can weaken the skin's inner protective tissue. Through long-term exposure to the sun, artificial sources of ultraviolet light, or both, you are contributing the risk for three different types of skin caner: basal cell, an otherwise benign skin cancer that can cause scarring, squamous cell, which is usually benign but which can spread through the body if left untreated, and melanoma, one of the most fatal kinds of cancer.

False Claim #2: "No harsh glare, so no goggles or shades are necessary." Too much exposure to ultraviolet rays can damage the retina, overexposure can burn the cornea, and repeated exposure over many years can change the structure of the eye, forming a cataract. Long-term exposure to the sun can create the same effects, however, in the sun you are more aware of the burning sensation on your eyelids, than you are in a tanning device, where you do not feel your skin burning. Also, the intensity of the lights in a tanning device is much greater and potentially more hazardous to your eyes than the intensity of UV rays in natural sunlight.

False Claim #3: "Tan year 'round without the harmful side effects often associated with natural sunlight." Exposure to tanning salon rays increases the damage caused by sunlight because the ultraviolet light thins the skin, decreasing its ability to heal. Over-exposure to ultraviolet rays causes premature aging of the skin. In reality a "healthy-looking tan" is actually damaged skin that has a higher chance of wrinkling and sagging than skin that has not tanned.

False Claim #4: "No danger in exposure or burning." Whether you tan indoors or outdoors, studies show the combination of ultraviolet rays and some medicines, birth control pills, cosmetics, and soaps may accelerate skin burns or produce painful adverse skin reactions, such as rashes. In addition, tanning devices may induce such common light-sensitive skin ailments as cold sores.

In order to reduce the risks associated with tanning, either indoors or outdoors, the FTC and the American Academy of Ophthalmology offer some recommendations.

• If you do choose to tan, it is important to limit your exposure to avoid burning. If you tan with a device:
• Does the device manufacturer, or the salon staff, provide recommended exposure limits for your skin type?
• Is there a timer you can set on the tanning device that automatically shuts off the lights or somehow signals you regarding your exposure time?
• Remember: Exposure time affects burning. Total UV dosage, whether received in a few large doses or in many smaller ones over a long period of time, can cause skin cancer and premature aging. You age at the time of exposure is also a critical factor relative to burning. Studies suggest that children and teens are harmed more by equivalent amounts of UVB rays than are adults. The earlier you start tanning, the earlier skin injury may occur.
• When using a tanning device, it is important to use eye protection because UV light can harm the corneas without your being aware of any injury.
• Check to see whether safety goggles are provided; their use should be mandatory.
• Make sure the goggles fit snugly.
• Verify that the salon sterilizes the goggles after each use to prevent the spread of eye infection.
• Remember: Artificial UV light is more intense and, therefore, potentially more damaging than that found in sunlight.
• Whether you choose to tan indoors or outdoors, it is important to consider your medical history.
• If you are undergoing treatment for lupus or diabetes, or are susceptible to cold sores, your condition could be severely aggravated if you are exposed to ultraviolet radiation from tanning devices, sunlamps, or natural sunlight.
• If you use antihistamines, tranquilizers, birth control pills, and other medications that are known to increase the likelihood of rashes, sunburns, and other allergic-type reactions when used with sun or artificial light, you should exercise caution.
• Your salon should maintain a file of information about your medications and the treatment you are taking, along with your medical history, which is updated periodically.
• Remember: Check with your personal physician or other health-care provider if you have questions about possible side effects associated with tanning.
• If you tan indoors, remember to use a sunscreen with a high SPF value.