But I am convinced that it's better not to tan at all, no matter whether you use the rays of the sun or a tanning bed. Protective eyewear is required to be worn while tanning in a booth because direct exposure of the eyes to the lamps can promote the growth of cataracts. But there's a certain amount of UV-B that is emitted, and that has the potential to be very damaging to the skin. Although UV-A rays are less likely to cause sunburn, a significant factor in acquiring skin cancer, that does not mean they are 100 percent safe, Patel said. Moderation is generally the theme that tanning salons promote, saying that they want to teach responsible tanning with reduced or negligible harm to the skin.
Indoor tanning is in a controlled environment, unlike being outdoors.
Tanning beds provide enough exposure to tan but not enough to burn, which can be very difficult to determine if you are tanning outdoors. Tanning beds also filter out UV-C wavelengths, which are the most dangerous type of ultraviolet light. Patel said it was an individual decision whether to tan or not, but that he urged caution in any case. Not everyone who smokes gets cancer, but there's definitely a link there. Ultraviolet damage to the skin is a serious cancer risk beyond any other issues it may cause.