Sunbeds and Cancer – The Truth

Have you ever wondered why some people avoid sunbeds at all costs? Yes, you may think that they are taking things way too seriously, but after further research, you might also have second thoughts about using sunbeds. How dangerous are they really? Let us find out!

These machines could pose a serious threat since they give out harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays that causes skin damage, and can make the skin itself look wrinkled. Sunbeds can also damage to DNA in skin cells and over time the built up damage can cause melanoma or skin cancer.

Sunbeds weren’t generally linked to cancer. They were marketed as a “controlled way” of getting a nice tan. But the truth is, these beds are no safer than sun exposure and can cause the same harm to your skin.

Nowadays, IARC (the International Agency for Research on Cancer) agrees there is sufficient evidence to show that using sunbeds can lead to skin malignancies and that they provide no positive health benefits.

Let's get the facts straight!

  • UV damage might builds up gradually. Using sunbeds for the first time before the age of 35 increases the risk of developing melanoma skin cancer by nearly 60 percent. Surgery can result in serious scarring, not to mention, melanoma can be fatal.
  • After a certain point, your skin won't get any darker. So, no matter how much more you use a sunbed, you won't get any darker. All it will do is it will make your skin coarse, leathery and wrinkled.
  • Sunbeds are not safer alternatives to sun tanning. UV radiation is the main cause of skin cancer, and sunbeds give off the same UVA and UVB rays as the Sun. Sunburns are mostly caused by UVB, both types of rays can cause damage to your DNA that can, in the long run, lead to skin cancer.

Modern beds emit mostly UVA rays, but UVB rays can make up 0.5 percent of the total output, which can be comparable to midday sun. Not to mention, the amount of UVA exposure in sunbeds can be 10-15 times higher than the midday sun.

  • Using sunscreen while using a sunbed will not completely protect you from skin damage. Neither will limited time on sunbeds. In fact, short periods of intense, irregular exposure to UV rays will also damage your skin.
  • You don't have to get your skin burnt to damage it. UV rays can penetrate deep into your skin's layers and damage skin cells. Some of this damage may happen before your skin gets burnt or turns red.
  • You don't need sunbeds to get your daily vitamin D needs. While this vitamin is important for healthy bones, it's not only UV exposure that makes our bodies create it. Vitamin D is also present in certain foods, and people only need short exposures to the sun to produce the needed amounts of the vitamin.

As you can see, sunbeds are no safer than tanning in the sun. If you want to try a safe alternative tanning option, make sure to choose tanning spray solutions, since they pose no such threats to your precious skin.