How much uv radiation in tanning beds

In , the International Agency for Research on Cancer analyzed 19 studies on indoor tanning and the risk for melanoma. Since , UV radiation from any source has been listed by the U.

National Toxicology Program as a known carcinogen cancer-causing substance. Currently, many government agencies caution against tanning. Laboratory research has helped us understand how tanning affects skin cells. This same DNA damage is the cause of tanning. In other words, tanning itself is a sign of DNA damage in the skin. Despite the clear evidence that it's unsafe, the use of tanning beds is on the rise. Nearly 30 million people in the United States tan in salons every year, most of them women between the ages of 16 and Surveys show that many people understand the risks but continue to tan because they think it makes them look healthy.

Meanwhile, the tanning industry makes misleading claims for the healthfulness of indoor tanning. One claim is that it helps build a base that protects against sunburn. It does, but only slightly — the equivalent of a sunscreen rated SPF 4 or less. Another claim is that tanning is a good way to stimulate the skin's production of vitamin D, a hormone that's essential to bone health and has been linked to a reduced risk for several cancers.

But you can get all the vitamin D you need in a daily vitamin D supplement, which offers all the benefits without any of the risks to your skin. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content.

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Thanks for visiting. Tewari A et al. UVA1 induces cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers but not photoproducts in human skin in vivo.

J Invest Dermatol Oct 6; [e-pub ahead of print]. Citation s : Tewari A et al. By continuing to use our site, you accept the use of these cookies. To learn more, please visit our Cookie Information page. The doctor is limiting the dose and protecting and shielding the rest of the body with sunscreen or protective sheets and clothing. We know that using narrow-band UVB for treatment might cause other problems down the road, like skin cancer.

And patients sign an informed consent that they understand that. One study observing 63 women diagnosed with melanoma before age 30 found that 61 of them 97 percent had used tanning beds!

Are there receptors in the skin that create this feeling? Is it just the warmth and forced relaxation that feel so good? Or is it that women and some men, too just like being tan and getting compliments about how they look? No matter what the mechanism is, I have seen that tanning can be a hard habit to break. But you should ask yourself, are those compliments worth getting cancer? Also, getting outside in daylight, with sun protection, especially if you can commune with nature, is a proven mood booster.

Deborah S.