Many dermatologists give the thumb’s down to indoor tanning. Their reason: there is no such thing as a healthy tan. They advise not to be fooled by claims that these commercial establishments offer "a healthy way to tan."
Someone once said that "when you step into a tanning salon, you may as well be walking out into the noonday sun in the Sahara." Either way, you are subjecting yourself to ultraviolet rays that can do irreparable damage to your skin, your eyes, and perhaps your life.
Health experts say that tanning is the skin’s reaction to overexposure to ultraviolet radiation. Whether the rays come from the sun or from a tanning bed or booth, the result is the same: repeated overexposure causes cumulative damage to the inner connective tissue of the skin, which can lead to, at best, wrinkled and leathery skin (called photo-aging) and, at worst, precancerous cell growth, tumors, and skin cancers.
For a long time now, tanning salons have been selling themselves as a safe alternative to outdoor sunbathing. Their tanning devices, which bathe the user with ultraviolet light, are designed not to emit the shortwave ultraviolet rays (known as UVB) that cause burning. Instead, they bathe the user in mainly longwave ultraviolet rays (UVA). Scientists concede that UVA rays don’t burn. But they may do much worse harm. There is mounting evidence that UVA rays increase the risk of malignant melanoma, an often fatal skin cancer that is on the rise.
Nor are these the only concerns. Just as natural sun poses risks to people with certain illnesses or who take specific medications, so too do sessions at a tanning salon: Medical experts warn that people with diabetes or lupus may experience flare-ups, and anyone using birth-control pills, antihistamines, antibiotics, or tranquilizers may suffer accelerated burning or such reactions as hives and blisters.
Finally, tanning booths make it easy to overexpose skin and eyes. Outside, we can’t feel ourselves burning, but the sun does make our skin feel hot. That doesn’t happen in a tanning salon, so there’s no clue you’re damaging your skin – or your eyes. In the short term, UVA rays can damage the retina or burn the cornea; over time, they can increase the risk of cataracts. Wearing ordinary sunglasses or closing your eyes won’t protect you. Tanning salons are required to direct customers to wear protective eye goggles. It’s not smart to step into these salons in the first place, but if you do, at least wear the goggles.