Since studies emerged in March 2006 on tanning beds and cancer, people have become more in tune with their health. This information showed that if you used a tanning bed before the age of 35, the risk of developing melanoma is much higher. If you’re not sure what melanoma is, it’s the deadliest form of skin cancer there is.
Even if you have just used a tanning bed at some point in your life, you have a 15% increased risk of developing melanoma. If by chance this was before the age of 35 then the possibility of melanoma increased by 75%.
While melanoma is the extreme, there have even been links between tanning beds and squamous cell carcinoma. It’s a mild form of skin cancer, but it’s still dangerous.
MSNBC reported in March 2007 that a tanning bed may be safe, but in reality, they are considered waiting to happen accidents.
Every year we see young men and women sunbathing trying to look and feel good about themselves. The enjoyment is obvious, but it can still lead to serious health problems down the road. This is especially true during the winter months when people use tanning beds.
Medical teams have not yet been able to find a link between basal cell carcinoma, but there could be a problem with the studies themselves. Basal cell carcinoma has a much longer latency period, so it could be years before we know the truth about whether or not these studies are relevant.
Unfortunately, these only show a partial truth between safe and unsafe tanning beds. It’s all geared towards explaining the effects of conventional tanning beds, rather than the world we live in today.
What is the Reasoning?
The biggest problem is that researchers don’t understand that magnetic ballasts are used in all conventional tanning beds. This causes high levels of radiation that contributes to cancer. They’ll tell you it’s because of the UV rays, and if they know this to be partially true, it also has to do with the equipment being used.
Of course, there are some tanning salons that offer safer equipment. What they do is replace those magnetic ballasts with electronic versions. This will allow you to tan safely without worrying about radiation problems from magnetic ballasts. If you don’t, being within inches of them can be extremely damaging.
Next time you go to your local tanning bed service, check for a buzz during your tan. This is a sound that lets you know that magnetic ballasts are being used. Electronic ballasts will be much quieter and more efficient.
The idea is to protect our health and still be able to enjoy a beautiful tan. However, if you limit your initial exposure and never end up with a sunburn, you won’t have to worry about it.