Solarium Health Risks

Solariums - Health Risks

Solariums - The Unsafe Way to Tan!
Think that solariums are a safe way to obtain that perfect tan? Thank again. Solarium tanning is a serious health and safety risk. The danger of solarium tanning is even higher than sun tanning. Why is solarium tanning so dangerous. Solariums use artificial ultraviolet radiation (UV) to tan the skin. In fact the UV used in solariums are up to five times as strong as the midday sun. UV prompts skin cells to produce ‘melanin’, which tans our skin. The artificial UV in solariums tans skin very quickly and is much more intense than UV from the sun.

Some of the risks of tanning in a solarium include burning, irritation, swelling, blistering of the skin and pain. This may continue to develop for up to 72 hours after exposure. Solariums also cause your skin to age much faster than it should. (That is definitely one reason not to tan in a Solarium).

Use a solarium regularly and you will notice your skin will wrinkle, blotch, sag and may even thicken. However the scariest health and safety danger is that Solarium tanning can also lead to skin cancer. UV penetrates deep into the skin, damaging skin cells and causing tumours to grow.

These tumours can turn into skin cancer, a potentially life threatening disease. If you are under the age of 18 you should strictly avoid solarium tanning, also if you are fair or burn easily, solariums are particularly dangerous for you. However all skin types will be damaged if exposed to UV often enough. Don’t be fooled by some of the myths out there. There is no safe or controlled way to tan. Any exposure to UV light can cause damage even 10 minutes exposure is dangerous to your health.

Summer Daize Tanning – The safe Alternative The only safe way to tan is to use a fake or spray tan such as Techno Tan. Never, ever suntan or use a solarium. It is dangerous and the risk of developing skin cancer is just too high. Not to mention the sun damage that your skin will suffer. Sun is the number one aging process. Stay out of the sun’s harmful rays. You and your skin deserves better

Reference: Queensland Cancer Foundation website, accessed 19th March 2009. http://www.cancerqld.org.au/pdf/Understandingsunspotsandskincancer.pdf