tanning beds? good/bad?

are there any serious and proven risks of using tanning beds?

you can get cancer, just as if you were laying out under the sun.  

Yep, skin cancer is a risk, just like with the sun. Tanning beds are more harsh because the light is concentrated.

UV rays are known to be carcinogenic.

But even if you dont get cancer, your skin will develop wrinkles earlier because the radiation breaks down the collagen in your skin  - the elastic stuff that keeps you looking young and smooth. (Remember Magda from Theres Something About Mary?)

I used to love going tanning, but the risk of skin cancer & the thought of developing wrinkles earlier became a huge turn off.  Now I spend my money on anti-aging products & moisturizers rather than the tanning salon.  (Not that I have any wrinkles, but it's never too early to start a good skin-care regime). 

I've been told that tanning beds are actually substanitally more damaging to your skin than natural sunlight is (which is still damaging).

I'd go for a spray tan if you want one that desperately. Anyway, here you go:

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS _1_1x_Tanning_Beds_May_Increase_Skin_Cancer_R isk.asp

The rays tanning beds produce are more harmful than the sun's rays. I saw a program on tv about it. UV rays are two rays combined--one that is harmful, and one that is not harful. Of course, they can so far only harvest the harmful rays and use those in tanning beds.

My favorite method of tanning is to use a gradual tanning lotion. Just apply 1-2 times a day, and each time your skin will get tanner. Your skin becomes healthier and there is no peeling. I have the St. Ives brand and I love it! Just be sure to wash your hands after applying or you will have orange-tinted hands. :P

I used to work at a gym that sold tanning...

Their "STORY" was that they practiced "Safe Tanning" by making members gradually increase their time in the bed to prevent burning. "Building a base tan prevents damage from the real sun in a controlled environment" was the kind of crap lines they would use to sell tanning sessions. Don't believe it for a second. Exposure is exposure. Any level of "TAN" is a visual sign of skin damage.

Used to make me furious that we would promote healthy living with the gym and then lie about tanning beds and the health effects.

Any UV exposure with or without a burn however creates damage - and any damage done to your skin can create premature aging and possibly cancer. Definitely not worth the risk.

I just embrace my ghostly pale skin and accept it will never have the 'sun-kissed' glow.

Original Post by stephh11:

are there any serious and proven risks of using tanning beds?

 Yes. 

mayo clinic on tanning beds

mayo clinic on sunless tanners

okay well i've only done it twice, and i'm never going to do it again

but are there any tanning lotions that you would recommend?

I've got rosacea and take tetracycline for it.  I now burn under a full moon.  Something about the antibiotic causes a chemical-like burn that weeps as opposed to burning the flesh.  It is no fun on your face. 

I tan and love it.(Yes,I know about the risk and all.Cancer,wrinkles...ect.)Tanning is sometimes used to elavate melatonin levels and decrease seasonal depression.Do the benifits out way the risks? You decide.

I'm with diamond, though I don't bed-tan.  I live by the beach and like heck am I going to sit indoors all day.  Skin cancer may be no fun, but neither is living a life without sun like so many people are begginning to advocate.  Seasonal Affective Disorder anyone?

If I get a few more wrinkles by the time I'm 40, I view them like laugh lines - proof that I lived a full life.

Sorry - guess I've seen too many family members suffer from cancer to advocate tanning as a method of SAD relief. And I know how easy it is to ignore the risks (everything causes cancer right?) but this is one that hits close to home.

Exercise is also proven to be a 'feel good' mood enhancer - so I think I'll stick to my strength & cardio training to get out of a funk.

I still go outside - and certainly if I lived by the beach I'd make sure I was enjoying it. I just wear sunscreen and cover up where/when I can! Still a beautiful way to spend a day even if you aren't bronzed!  

You can still enjoy the beach and sunshine without baking yourself. There's a reason why there's sunscreen.

For the couple of you have advocate tanning, have fun looking 10 years+ older than you really are. The rest of us will enjoy being skin cancer free and younger looking skin.