In an effort to chase the perfect tan and despite the warnings regarding the health risks associated with tanning beds, teenagers still choose to frequent tanning salons. While tanning beds pose risks to everyone who uses them, teenagers are especially susceptible to risk given that those who tan in their teens have a higher chance of developing skin cancer as they age versus those who used the tanning beds after the age of 35, according to Healthgrades. But because the need to darken skin by a few shades or more without sunscreen is more important than potentially developing a life-threatening condition, teens do not heed the warnings about indoor tanning. As a result, teenagers face risks when using a tanning bed.
The use of tanning light has been around for decades. Initially, it was used to treat those who were ill. However, as the look of being tan caught popularity in the 1920s, according to Reader's Digest, the door was immediately opened to finding ways to tan that did not require hours of being in the sun. This is what eventually led to the tanning bed revolution that began in the late 1980s, eventually peaking at their height of popularity in the mid-2000s.
While tanning beds are not as popular as they once were, that does not mean they are not still being used. This comes as 7.8 million people continue to use tanning beds yearly, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association. And of those people, nearly one-third began tanning before the age of 18.
Here are the risks teens face when using a tanning bed.
5 More Likely To Be Diagnosed With Melanoma
Given their desire to be tan not only in the summer but year-round, teenagers use tanning salons for more than just special occasions. And as a result of the frequent tanning, the risk for developing melanoma is almost certain given.
According to Anne Arundel Dermatology, melanoma is the second most common cancer in those 15 to 29 years of age. For those who choose to use a tanning bed before the age of 35, the chances of developing melanoma increase by 59 percent. And for every session spent in the tanning bed, that number continues to increase.
Though the use of tanning beds has decreased over the past several years, annually, according to Healthgrades, 16 percent of teenagers and one out of three teenage girls consistently use a tanning bed. And unfortunately, even if teens decide to stop tanning, there has already been damage done to the skin, and the ball put into motion to develop skin cancer regardless of how many or few times a tanning bed was used.
4 Premature Aging
Because teenagers have the gift of youth and unweathered skin on their side, they do not think about how the tanning bed is making their skin age faster than it should. However, as they begin to age and the fine lines and wrinkles begin to take shape earlier, perhaps than many, teens will be able to point at their use of tanning beds for the premature aging happening to their skin.
According to MedicineNet, tanning is a form of skin damage. As a result of being damaged, the cells produce excess melatonin, which produces the tan. When this is done continuously, things such as brown spots, wrinkles, and the like begin to form earlier than they would for those who have not spent an excessive amount of time in the sun. And even worse, per the publication is that people get a "sense of security" by tanning in the bed, believing it is safer than laying out in the sun. In reality, however, it is worse and causes more damage to the skin than the sun could alone.
3 Eye Damage
When exposed to ultraviolet radiation, damage to the eyes can occur, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. And while eye damage is unlikely to happen the first time using the tanning bed, over time it can.
Damage to eyes in tanning beds occurs over time, per the publication. As a result of this, the more time that is spent in the tanning beds, the more opportunity there is for the UV rays to cause damage. This happens as many do not want to have light spots on their eyes as a result of the goggles that are to be worn during tanning. Because of this, the rays are close to and directly on the eyelids. When this happens, cumulative damage occurs and cancer to the eye or cataracts result.
2 Immune Suppression
While people who are sick go out into the sunshine to soak in vitamin D in hopes of feeling better, those who tan in tanning beds do not get any dose of vitamin D whatsoever. In fact, the rays do not help to heal the body but instead, suppress the immune system instead.
According to the FDA, the UV rays that the body is exposed to while in the tanning bed weaken the immune system by causing damage to the cells. If this happens often enough, the immune system becomes worn down and is unable to fight off cancer cells that want to invade the body. When this happens, cancer cells grow in number and that is when basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma form.
1 Allergic Reaction
The number of UV rays that tanning beds emit during a tanning session is much higher than what skin would be exposed to outdoors. Because of this, the skin may not be able to absorb all of the rays and when this happens, an allergic reaction occurs.
According to Healthline, when the skin is exposed to UV rays via the tanning bed, the heat lamps get so hot that the skin can have a hard time absorbing both the heat and the rays they are being subjected to. As a result, a rash will form until the cells are able to recover and are no longer damaged by the rays.
Secondarily, per the publication, when people tan, the skin's ability to sweat can be "interrupted." When this happens, a heat rash will form, which will remain until the skin has had proper time to cool, is no longer being exposed to the rays, and is not being further irritated by clothing.
Source: Healthgrades, Reader's Digest, American Academy of Dermatology Association, Anne Arundel Dermatology, MedicineNet, American Academy of Ophthalmology, FDA, Healthline