The tanning bed definitely has a lot of fans, most of who want to get the deep down tan that the sun provides without having to get it outdoors. The use of tanning beds should not be taken lightly however, and for all its benefits, it comes with a few disadvantages as well. Let’s take on the benefits first.

A lot of the appeal lies in its sheer convenience. Since the UV source is a lot closer to your skin, you can get a tan much faster by using a tanning device than you would under the sun.

Many people also feel that a using a bed makes them feel better for some reason. While this was thought to be the result of endorphins released into the system, research has shown that there is no difference in the endorphin levels of people that have used a bed compared to those who didn’t. It appears then that the mood enhancing benefit of the tanning is largely psychological.

Of course a bed will give a person greater control with regard to how much he or she will tan, but this is a somewhat dubious benefit, since it can be abused. Nevertheless, the use of self tanning devices opens the user up to a lot less risk of getting sunburn, since the amount of exposure can be controlled more easily.

As for the drawbacks of using a bed, careful consideration may bear out that they outweigh the benefits. For one thing, too much exposure to UV has been linked with the occurrence of skin cancer. In addition, this also makes the skin age faster and develop wrinkle much sooner than it would otherwise. In extreme cases, UV exposure could also result in DNA mutation, impairment of the immune system, and numerous other effects. Arc eye is another condition that has been linked to the use of a bed without protective eye covering. It is also interesting to note that exposure to UV from a self tanning device can result in pretty much the same side effect as overexposure to the sun.

The US Public Health Service has gone in record to say that the UV radiation from a bed is a potential carcinogen, and that people under 30 years of age who have been overexposed have an increased risk of developing skin cancer in their later years. Ironically, a study has shown that although many college age student are aware of the risks involved in using a tanning bed, few are deterred from using them anyway.

All of this is only made more alarming by the recent announcement in the media that the use of beds is considered by scientific and health experts to be just as much a cancer risk as arsenic and mustard gas. In Ireland, plans are in fact underway to ban the manufacture and sale of tanning beds, given their possible role in the development of skin cancer.

A tanning bed will have a series of fluorescent lamps inside. These aren’t ordinary fluorescent lamps however, since they are fitted with phosphor components that emit UV rays, essentially replicating the effects of the sun.

The tanning beds designed for home use tend to be smaller and typically home tanning beds have anywhere from 12 to 28 lamps generating a hundred watts of power. The commercial beds found in salons can have 24 to 60 lamps of up to 200 watts each.

Some of the newer “high pressure” bed models utilize special quartz lamps, in addition to reflectors and filters. These types of beds tend to be more expensive, and aren’t quite as common as the other types of beds. The tanning booth is actually similar in design and function to the tanning bed, although they have a higher output, and the person using it will have to stand instead of lie down of course.

A number of issues have been brought to the fore with regard to the use of sun tanning beds. Of particular concern are the risks of skin cancer, cataract, immune system conditions, and early skin aging, all of which can be caused by overexposure to UV rays. For this reason, the World Health Organization does not support the widespread use of beds for cosmetic purposes. People who use a bed without wearing protective goggles are also at risk for arc eye.

Depending on where in the world you live, your usage of a bed may vary greatly. Users in North America tend to use a bed as away to get a head start on the summer tan. This is why beds are commonly in demand beginning in January until June, when the arrival of summer causes the demand to taper off somewhat. The use of a bed in North America also usually goes hand in hand with the use of a sun tanning lotion.

Over in Europe, the bed enjoys a slightly different use. Since many parts of Europe can have a lot less sunshine than other parts of the world, many Europeans tend to use a bed all year ’round. In addition to cosmetic purposes, Europeans also tend to use a bed for its mood altering effects. Even in other parts of the world, the bed is used to ease the pain of sore or tired muscles. The infrared heat generated by a bed is apparently able to soothe minor aches and pains.

Keep in mind that the tan you will get from a tanningbed can be just as deep as a tan you would get from staying out in the sun. Most tanning-beds actually provide just as much UV than the sun on a hot summer day. In fact, you will actually tan a lot faster in a bed than you would at a beach, since you will be much closer to the UV source. In general, it would be best to limit your outdoor activity after you have used a tanning bed in order to avoid getting over exposed.