Both, however, stimulate the production of the skin pigment melanin. Melanin is manufactured to protect skin from the ultraviolet rays in sunlight. It's also what makes moles look brown and gives people with darker skin their color. It's at this point that the views of the doctors and the industry begin to diverge. Mich. Many salons and manufacturers say the radiation emitted by bulbs is less harmful than natural sunlight.
Dermatologists take issue with the industry's information.
At the heart of the doctors' argument is the position that no tan is a good tan. Weinstock and other dermatologists say that UVA or UVB radiation does help the body produce vitamin D, which plays a key role in building bones, but that most people need only minutes of daily sunlight exposure to a small part of the body to produce all that's needed. Weinstock said that studies link UV exposure with various types of skin cancer. More than 1 million people nationwide will develop skin cancer this year, according to the American Cancer Society. Claims disputed Doctors also disagree with claims that exposure to moderate amounts of radiation helps protect skin from burning and aging.