Antik Dey

Indoor tanning salons have provided the opportunity for people who are striving for a more attractive, tanned body during all four seasons to get it.  However, the risk of sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light exposure on the skin always remains a threat for people sun tanning, either outdoors or indoors.  

Guy Cafri and his colleagues from the department of Psychology at the University of South Florida, conducted a study investigating the appearance motives behind indoor tanning, and found a causal relationship.

“UV exposure has been shown to be related to appearance concerns,” concluded Cafri in his article published in the Journal of Body Image, on May 2006. “Factors [influencing] college female tanners were: general attractiveness, media influence, and family or friends influence.”

In the wake of indoor sun tanning salons, people who were self-conscious about their skin tone were able to acquire a more tanned appearance during all four seasons. Sun tanning salons advertise the importance of UV light exposure on the skin, as it provides a more attractive appearance, and instigates the body to produce Vitamin D, which strengthens bones, and prevents lung and skin cancers. The UV light is emitted by lamps that are positioned above the person as they lie down inside the tanning bed. 

The dark side of sun tanning is that excess exposure to UV light can change one’s DNA code, which could lead to uncontrolled cell growth at the surface of the skin. This phenomenon is known as skin cancer. 

“Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation damages your skin, whether the exposure comes from tanning beds or natural sunlight,” said Dr. Lawrence Gibson, a dermatologist at the Mayo Clinic. “This damage increases the risk of skin cancer and premature skin aging. In fact, most tanning beds emit mainly UVA rays — which may increase the risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.”

Your anonymous comment may be printed in The Ontarion's print publication.