I started using indoor tanning beds in high school and was instantly addicted to everything about them—the warmth, the humming noise, the way a tan boosted my confidence. There seems to be a lot of confusion about the risk vs. benefits of tanning along with how much sunlight is beneficial and healthy for us. Yes, it's way better than getting a … "You constantly hear indoor tanning causes melanoma," he says. I bought my wife a tanning bed to "maintain" her tan during fall/winter. And is a tanning bed really worse than the sun? During the spring/summer it isn't nearly as bad. Note the order of operations here. So I asked top dermatologist Dr. Ralph Massey from Santa Monica, CA. Other people insist you’re better off lying on the beach. Shortly after I started tanning as a hobby, it also became my career. While it's easy to feel smug fake tanning while your friends are getting a real one, don't relax too much. Are tanning beds bad for you? That’s a lot. Yes you can still burn wearing fake tan . However, these enzymes do not always repair the DNA successfully, and all this unrepaired damage can lead to mutations that increase the risk of skin cancer. Is tanning bad for you? You need to know the top tanning bed tips to help you achieve your ideal glow. Why Tanning Without Lotion Might Not Be As Attractive As You Think Whether tanning on a beach with golden rays of the sun shining down on your skin, or crawling inside of a tanning bed in an attempt to get the same effect, people should always understand the dangers of tanning without lotion before allowing all of that heat to reach their skin. First you damage the cells, then they release melanin. There is no such thing as "safe" UV. Is tanning really bad for you? Depending on whether you shake the formula or let it settle, you can have a matte or shimmery finish. The sun’s UV rays damage the DNA of the skin’s epidermal cells, triggering enzymes that race to repair the damage. So which is it? "'Causes' means, if you do it, you have [melanoma]. But researchers finally have nailed down just how bad. Conclusion. In the days when Western Europe and America were mostly agrarian, tans were seen as "low-class" and fair skin was coveted. Tanning is the body's response damage to the cells by UV. Many indoor tanning companies will tell you that lying in a tanning bed is actually safer for your skin than being in the sun. There are so many elements as to why tanning beds are the number one option for getting that toned, sun-kissed complexion everyone admires. Tanning beds allow you to damage your skin cells faster. For 6 years I worked in the tanning salon industry, including 3 years in management. I hate being the bearer of bad news, but self-tanner just isn't as safe as we've been led to believe. If it makes you tan, it is injuring you. My aunt, who is an anthropologist, tells me it has to do with affluence and class. 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