Stay Safe: Understanding the Dangers of Tanning

We all love tanning because it gives us a beautiful, healthy glow. There are certain dangers of tanning however, which must be taken very seriously into consideration, especially since some of them are even potentially deadly.

When we speak of the dangers of tanning it is important to know that there are dangers to both types of tanning: real tanning and tanning beds. Whether you are tanning in the sun or in a bed, there are certain things that you are going to have to consider.

Sun Tanning

First, in terms of the dangers of tanning in the sun, one of the biggest dangers is skin cancer. Like all other types of cancer, skin cancer is very scary, and most people are not aware of how easy it is to develop skin cancer from tanning in the sun. the development of skin cancer may take many years and it may be a while before there is any significant damage done to your body, but the cancer will still be there and the worst part is if you do not know about it.

If left untreated skin cancer can be potentially harmful and even deadly, so there is really no better time to start protecting yourself than the present. If you are not able to avoid the sun for instance if you work outdoors, then you at least need to make sure that you are wearing a sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 15 to all areas of your body that are exposed to the sun.

Tanning Beds

Also in the discussion of the dangers of tanning must include that involved with tanning beds. There has always been a lot of controversy surrounding the matter of getting a tan in a tanning bed, even though it is still an incredibly popular activity around the world.

Tanning in tanning beds does not have to be dangerous, but the bottom line is that if you use a tanning bed you should be fully understanding on the dangers of tanning beds so that you can make the most educated and safe choices here.

In terms of more short-term dangers, using tanning beds on a regular basis tends to cause dry and itchy skin. There are also many long-term dangers as well however, including skin cancer, as most tanning beds release very high and dangerous levels of ultraviolent radiation which has shown to cause premature aging and greatly increase ones risk of developing skin cancer.