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Tanning Salon Equipment
A few things you may want to know before you buy indoor tanning equipment
Tanning Salon Equipment
We are a manufacturer of indoor tanning beds and occasionally make available dent & scratch models we sell at a discount to retail prices found on our main website. This is the current list of tanning salon equipment available from American Quality Manufacturing, makers of the Sunal, Perfect Tan, Tropical Rayz, and South Beach brand names:
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Professional SF 281 $4700 (1) white in color, scratch & dent model available for $3700 (includes delivery to most of USA)
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Tropical Rayz SF 281 $5100 (1) canary yellow in color scratch & dent model available for $4100 (includes delivery to most of USA)
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Tropical Rayz BF 321 $6000 (2) kawasaki green in color scratch & dent models available for $4200 (includes delivery to most of USA)
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High Intensity UVB321 $6100 (1) kawasaki green in color scratch & dent model available for $5000 (includes delivery to most of USA)
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Wide Body Ultra Bronzer 383 $10,400 (1) ocean blue in color scratch & dent model available for $8000 (includes delivery to most of USA)
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SouthBeach 48VHR stand up tanning booth $9500 (1) canary yellow in color scratch & dent model available for $8000 (includes delivery to most of USA)
Call 888-999-7577 to order!
Introduction to tanning beds
What is a tanning bed?
A tanning bed is a device you lay down on with bulbs which emit ultraviolet radiation (typically 95% UVA and 5% UVB, +/-3%) used to produce a cosmetic tan. Regular tanning beds use several fluorescent lamps that have phosphor blends designed to emit UV in a spectrum that is somewhat similar to the sun. Smaller home tanning beds usually have 12 to 28 100 watt lamps while systems found in salons can run from 24 to 60 lamps each consuming 100 to 200 watts.
Other popular names for indoor tanning beds
Tanning beds may also be referred to as sun beds, solariums, tan beds, sun tanning beds, indoor tanning equipment, and stand up tanning booths or vertical tanners in various parts of the world.
Typical tanning bed or sun bed usage
Tanning beds are used for somewhat different reasons in the US than in Europe. In the US, tanning is more seasonal, where most users begin in January and stop or slow down by June. It is most often used as a way to jump-start the tanning process, so that once the summer begins, they can go to the beach or enjoy other outdoor activities and already have a significant base tan built up. This is also why tanning lotions and bronzers are more commonly used in the US.
Benefits of indoor tanning
While the primary reason for both Americans and Europeans to use a tanning bed is cosmetic, there are many other reasons why they are used. It is common for people to tan simply because it makes them feel good. Also, most tanning beds generate a large amount of heat, including infrared, which has deep penetrating action that can relieve minor muscle aches.
While most dermatologists discourage the use of tanning beds, many are now prescribing high UVB tanning devices for various skin diseases. Some people with psoriasis or eczema are treated with UVB light therapy (known as PUVA, for Psoralens and UVA radiation) to lessen the symptoms. This is typically in the 310 nm to 315 nm portion of the UVB spectrum. Virtually all fluorescent tanning lamps have one spectral peak within this region of the UVB spectrum, making them an effective tool in mild to moderate cases. In some circumstances, salon memberships have been prescribed and more rarely the purchase of home tanning beds have been prescribed by doctors and may be covered by insurance policies. Tanning may temporarily help some forms of acne by drying out the skin, but it is not a solution that lasts for very long.
Further, most prescription or over the counter acne medications (e.g. Accutane, Benzoyl Peroxide, Retin-A) should not be used in combination with ultraviolet exposure or the user may experience negative side effects from burning to delayed healing due to photosensitivity that these drugs (and many others) can create.
Exposure to UVB light in the 295 nm to 297 nm spectra (regardless of source) leads to production of vitamin D in the skin. Vitamin D is important for a number of human functions, including the maintenance of normal blood levels of phosphorus and calcium and the promotion of healthy bones. Studies have shown that many people don't get enough of the vitamin, which may even aid in the prevention of cancer, diabetes, and HIV. However, because tanning beds use bulbs that emit mostly UVA light (95% UVA and 5% UVB), tanning beds do not appreciably help the body produce vitamin D.
Tanning makes most people feel good. To understand how this happens, researchers set out to determine if endorphin levels were increased after tanning. They concluded that there were no significant differences in the mean plasma levels of β-endorphin between people who were exposed to tanning beds and those who were not. The positive psychological benefits of tanning may be due to factors other than endorphins.
It is believed that sun beds are useful for the treatment of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), though this is disputed at present. It is plausible that the benefit that many SAD patients experience are more due to tanning causing them to feel good in general, rather than treat the SAD itself.
The history of tanning beds in America
Although tanning beds were initially brought to America by Friedrich Wolff in 1978, he soon patented his particular blend of phosphors (since expired) and began licensing the technology to other companies. Wolff Systems has since devoted all their resources into lamp technology and development. Some of the early adopters of the Wolff technology include ETS, Inc., SCA, Sun Industries, Inc., Montego Bay, Sunal. Later, Friedrich sold Wolff Systems to his brother Jorg Wolff, who was the founder of Cosmedico, Ltd., another pioneer in the tanning industry.
Most modern tanning beds have not changed much from the original systems. The lamp technology and electronics have evolved over the years, but the basic "low pressure" tanning bed has not evolved. The original electronics used in the first tanning beds, both "European choke" and magnetic, are still in use today although there are now many other choices including electronic and high frequency. The lamps are still fluorescent type, using special phosphors that create a spectrum in the UVA and UVB range although there has been a great deal of advancement over the years to make the light spectrum they emit more "sun-like".
Tanning bed regulations
Initially, tanning beds were virtually unregulated in the US, but in 1988 (and later updated in 1999) the primary source of regulation at the federal level was 21 CFR 1040.20. This law was designed primarily to ensure that all tanning beds sold or used in salons adhered to a general set of safety rules, with the primary focus on tanning bed and lamp manufacturers in regards to maximum exposure times and product equivalence. It is left up to each individual state to determine the regulations for salons themselves, and as such, many states are still not regulated beyond these basic federal rules. Check to see if your state has regulations by clicking here.
In the United States, the maximum exposure time in most tanning beds is 20 minutes but varies from bed to bed. This is calculated by the manufacturer according to the amount of time needed to produce 4 MEDs (minimal erythemal doses). This is essentially 4 times the amount of UV that is required to produce a reddening on unexposed skin. A person would start with a much shorter session time and work their way to the maximum exposure time in about 4 weeks. Every tanning bed is required to have a "Recommended Exposure Schedule" on both the front of the tanning bed and in the owner’s manual. It must also list the original lamp that was certified for that particular tanning bed, and salon owners must replace the lamps with either the exact same lamp, or a lamp that is certified by the lamp manufacturer to be legally equivalent. Lamp replacement and salon compliance is regulated by the individual state in the USA, whereas the manufacturing and sale of new equipment is regulated by the federal government.
Types of Sun Beds
Low Pressure
Low pressure tanning beds are the most common home and salon type installed by tanning bed manufacturers today and the usually employ 100-120 watt fluorescent type bulbs. The number of lamps in low pressure tanning beds range from 16 to 32 or more and a low pressure tanning bed may also include up to three 400 watt high pressure facial bulbs but still be considered a low pressure tanning bed.
High Pressure
There are "high pressure" tanning beds that generate primarily UVA (99.9%) with some UVB by using highly specialized quartz lamps, reflector systems and filters. These are less common and much more expensive, thus less commonly used. High pressure bulbs typically begin at 400 watts (these are the most common type of “facial” bulbs in low pressure tanning beds.
Other high pressure beds include 500 watt, 1000 watt, and even 2000 watt units.
These high pressure tanning beds require special filter glass to remove the UVC and the majority of the UVB that is emitted and are difficult to manufacture because the alignment of the lamps is more critical than in traditional low-pressure tanning beds. They are generally large units, with a padded area to lie on or an acrylic and 6 to 36 lamps in a canopy or canopy and bench configuration, the tanning effect is much deeper and requires only a maintenance exposure of about 2-3 times per month compared to every 48 hours for regular tanning beds. They are much more expensive to operate, thus more expensive for the user. Retail prices in the $20,000 to $35,000 range are common with individual sessions costing $20 to $45, depending on the market.
High pressure tanning beds have no or very little UVB light and 100% UVA light which interacts with melanin in the top layer of skin to turn it brown. Therefore, if you do not already have melanin present in your dead skin layer you will see no results from a high pressure tanning bed session. Therefore, a person with creamy white skin should consider stimulating their melanin by first tanning in a “starter” bed with at least 5% UVB blend.
Starter Beds
This term refers to the standard beds, or level 1 beds, which have a 5% UVB blend which is considered ideal for the first few tanning sessions for those looking to develop a deep, dark tan without reddening or burning. The concept of starter beds is that someone with little or no melanin present in their top layer of skin should begin the tanning process with the proper blend of UVB and UVA and start with just a few minutes of tanning time and slowly build up to 20 minute maximum sessions before advancing to the 2nd or 3rd level or high pressure beds.
High Intensity Tanning Beds
This term refers to commercial tanning beds with tanning lamps containing a % of UVB in the 7.5-8.5% and is usually in the second tier of most 3 and 4 tier tanning systems at large tanning salons. Keep in mind that the high pressure beds could be referred to as high intensity because they employ the 160-220 watt tanning bed bulbs but they usually have the “bronzing” bulbs which have a 2% UVB or lower.\
Bronzing & Ultra-Bronzing Tanning Beds
Bronzing refers to UVA light interacting with melanin in the dead layer skin to turn it brown, therefore, tanning beds with bulbs which contain a 2% UVB % or lower are considered “bronzing” bulbs and thus, bronzing beds. The most common bronzing bulb is the Cosmolux Cosmedico VHR 9K90 series in 160-200 watt configurations.
Turbo, Mega, & Super Beds
These terms usually refers to the level 3 and 4 beds in a tanning salon and may include the high pressure tanning bed class as well. A tanning salon may indiscriminately refer to their tanning beds in any of these and several other nicknames to describe their different level of tanning beds offered in the salon.
Stand Up Tanning Booths
Also known as stand up tanning beds, tanning huts, and tanning verticals in Europe. Brand names include Hex, Sundome, SouthBeach, & Ergoline. Stand up tanning booths usually contain between 48-60 bulbs which are 160 to 220 watts each. The stand up tanning booth has many distinct advantages to lay down tanning beds, such as these:
More hygienic – lay down tanning beds may transfer diseases if not sanitized properly, especially if a crack in the acrylic forms
As your body falls – does not create weird tan lines and tans your body as if you were walking on the beach and as you would normally would be seen in a bathing suit, etc.
Body isolation tanning – with straps to hold onto above your head and plenty of room to maneuver, you can tan various parts of your body in short concentrated time periods, such as your underarms or hips
Most powerful tanning device – most of the time, the stand up tanning booth is the most powerful tanning unit in a salon. With 54 or 60 bulbs at 160 watts each, there is 9600 watts of power versus 2800 watts for a level 1 starter bed.
Fastest tanning times – some standup tanning booths have 8 and 9 minute max sessions so a salon owner can get more clients through for a given time period and a tanner can get a great tan in the shortest possible time. Great for downtown location tanning salons who may have a before work and lunch crowd who do not want to lay down or sweat while tanning.
Tanning Chairs
As the name implies, you sit in a chair that has tanning bed bulbs designed to tan you in a sitting position. There are few manufacturers of tanning bed chairs like the one pictured here.
Tanning Bed Construction
Bench
The bench is the part of the tanning bed which you lay down and consists of the tanning bed bulbs and a tanning bed acrylic, the clear part you actually lie on. The bench is mounted on legs, usually steel or aluminum, which are normally bolted on and sometimes welded. A tanning bed bench also may house the ballasts, timers and other interconnecting parts which you may have to access for maintenance.
Canopy
The canopy is the part of the tanning bed which is the “top” of the tanning bed and contains the same components as the bottom, or bench, which you may need to access for maintenance.
Frame
The frame of a tanning bed is usually always steel which is normally bolted together, however there is at least one manufacturer who welds their frames together for extra strength and longevity.
Skin
The material which makes up the skin of a tanning bed can be made of plastic, aluminum, or steel. This part of the tanning bed is the most varied with manufacturers producing many varieties of tanning bed skins to choose from. All-steel tanning beds offer life-time service where as plastic tanning beds offer smooth lines and appearance but limited life.
Acrylics
The surfaces on which the tanner lies and shield the user by physical separation from the lamps on the bench and canopy are typically referred to as the "acrylics". Tanning bed acrylics are manufactured from a base material of Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA), type UVT (UV-transmitting), which has been formulated to have a spectral transmittance in the wavelength region 290-400 nm. This should not be confused with a standard acrylic, or "plexiglass", which would not transmit within this spectral range effectively inhibiting the tanning properties of the unit.
These acrylic materials should never be cleaned with any agent containing alcohol (i.e. glass cleaner), as this will adversely affect the material surface causing a phenomenon known a "crazing". This will present itself as small fissures resembling spiderwebs forming where stresses are most concentrated on the part and in the region which was subjected to the chemical attack.
These shields break down over time as they are exposed to UV and oxygen and must be reconditioned every few years. Failure to do so will reduce the transparency of the acrylic to UV rays, although to the eye it will still appear perfectly clear. The reconditioning is most commonly done with a compound called Novus #2, which is a slightly gritty cleaning compound that removes a microlayer of the acrylic, restoring to near new condition and is used in many other industries. This being said, a better practice is to replace the acrylic as the oxidation described above affects the physical properties of the material rendering it less impact resistant.
Frosted Tanning Bed Acrylics
There are now tanning beds available with frosted acrylics. The frosting does reduce the UVB rays which pass thru by 20% and manufacturers try to compensate by placing 120 watt lamps versus 100 watt lamps in the tanning beds with frosting acrylics.
Shocks, Struts, & Lifts
The part of a tanning bed which separates the canopy from the bench and allows the canopy to open with little effort and close to any position are called “shocks” or struts or lifts. In most tanning beds these shocks are similar to the ones used in hatch-backs for mini-vans, etc and are very specific to each bed in which they are used. Some of the more expensive tanning units use automatic lifts or garage door type springs for easy use of very heavy canopies.
Bulbs & Lamps
Regular tanning beds use several fluorescent lamps that have phosphor blends designed to emit UV in a spectrum that is somewhat similar to the sun. Smaller home tanning beds usually have 12 to 28 100 watt lamps while systems found in salons can run from 24 to 60 lamps each consuming 100 to 200 watts.
Ballasts
Most tanning beds use choke ballasts, a technology that has been around for about 100 years, consisting of a simple inductor which limits amount of current passing through, and requires a lamp starter to preheat the ends of the lamp briefly at start. Newer ballast systems include magnetic ballasts, electronic ballasts and more recently high frequency ballasts that induce tanning and other fluorescent lamps to work using less wattage, by using higher frequencies. In general, newer ballast designs produce less heat and are more energy efficient. All choke ballasts require 230V only because no one has found a need for 120V choke ballasts in tanning manufacturing.
The ballasts regulate the power that is sent to the lamps, so that if you install a 160W lamp in a tanning bed that has 100W ballasts, only 100W will be delivered to the lamp. The lamp will still ignite and offers no benefits over a 100W lamp, and may actually create less UV since it is designed for higher current. It will not damage the system, although installing 160W lamps with a 100W ballast will result in very short lamp life, as the 160W lamp cathode/anode sets are typically designed to run at much higher temperature.
Roll-out ballast trays for tanning beds are provided by some manufacturers to make maintenance on parts likes ballasts, relays, and capacitors much easier. All of the ballasts and important electrical components are mounted on a tray with wheels in which you can remove one cover and have instant access to all serviceable components of a tanning bed or booth except the lamp socket and starters, which you access from the front by removing the acrylic.
Starters
The lamp starter part of the bed (small tan cylinder) is used only on beds with choke ballasts and is a simple plasma starting switch. It has no bearing on how powerful the bed is. Either it works (the lamp lights) or doesn't. They are installed one per lamp on beds that use them, and are generally replaced every couple of years in salons or every 6 to 10 years for infrequently used systems.
Timers
Tanning bed timers include the old mechanical egg type which are still in use today in cheaper home tanning bed models and the newer digital timers which can be connected with CAT5 style communication wire or with new wireless adapters.
Cooling Fans
There are two types of cooling fans in a tanning bed: the first are the fans which keep the internal components like ballasts cool and the second type are the body cooling fans. The more fans the better for component cooling because heat removal can be a problem down the road if your room is not adequately ventilated.
A body cooling fan mounted at the end of a tanning bed is the ideal body cooling system. Preferably the body cooling fans should come on automatically with the bed and have separate fan speed controls.
Buck-boosters
These are step-up (boost) or step-down (buck) voltage transformers which take your building's input voltage, usually 208-248 volts, and regulates it to the recommended input voltage for your tanning unit (220-232 volts).
Buck boosters are ONLY required if your existing voltage, as determined by your particular location, is outside of the 220-232V range as dictated by the tanning bed manufacturer. Buck boosters usually cost between $150-$300 and are pre-wired for your needs.
Buck-boosters are a small, heavy, grey box which lay behind the bed. The buck-booster plugs into the wall (or hard-wired as required) and the tanning bed is plugged or hard-wired into the buck-boosters. For larger salons you may also elect to install a single large transformer in your electrical utility room and run all your electricity through this unit. You must perform a cost analysis of these two options and you may want to go to three-phase power distribution versus single-phase to further save money in electrical cost. This is only a valid option for salons with 10 or more tanning units.
Single versus Three Phase Power
Most manufacturers will pre-wire commercial tanning beds in both single and three phase power operation. Many of the largest tanning beds only come in this configuration because of the large amount of current draw required. The most important fact to know as a salon owner is that you always want 3 phase power operation on as many tanning beds as possible to lower your electric bill. In summary, you want to know if three-phase is available in your location or how expensive it would be to have it brought in to your power panel.
Paint Color & Graphics
Tanning beds come in a variety of colors and graphics packages which include contemporary, tropical, and even space age look. There are also tanning bed manufacturers who will put your logo on the unit or paint with your color scheme. Many of the fastest growing fitness franchise use custom tanning bed builders to match their color schemes exactly. These include Anytime Fitness, Planet Fitness, and Snap Fitness franchises.
Tanning Bed Bulbs
History of tanning lamps
The first original tanning lamps were discovered by accident in 1903 by a German company called Heraeus who were developing lighting systems for the home and for industrial usage. These lamps were of the high-pressure metal halide variety. They discovered that the light that was developed for visible light purposes also emitted ultra-violet light. In the 1920s and 1930's they (Heraeus) first started to market and sell single lamp, self standing tanning/wellness devices. The first high-pressure tanning beds incorporating more than a single high-pressure lamp were manufactured in the mid to late seventies by companies such as Ultrabronz and JK Ergoline and in the 1980s the first high-pressure units were exported to the United States.
Types of Tanning Bed Bulbs
Low pressure
Low pressure tanning bulbs are the most common home and salon type installed by tanning bed manufacturers today and the usually employ 100-120 watt fluorescent type lamps. The number of lamps in low pressure tanning beds range from 16 to 32 or more and a low pressure tanning bed may also include up to three 400 watt high pressure facial bulbs but still be considered a low pressure tanning bed.
High pressure
High pressure tanning lamps generate primarily UVA (99.9%) with some UVB by using highly specialized quartz lamps, reflector systems and filters. These are less common and much more expensive, thus less commonly used. High pressure bulbs typically begin at 400 watts which are the most common type of “facial” bulbs in low pressure tanning beds. Other high pressure tanning bed bulb varieties include 500 watt, 1000 watt, and even 2000 watt units.
High pressure tanning beds require special filter glass to remove the UVC and the majority of the UVB that is emitted and are difficult to manufacture because the alignment of the lamps is more critical than in traditional low-pressure tanning beds. They are generally large units, with a padded area to lie on or an acrylic and 6 to 36 lamps in a canopy or canopy and bench configuration, the tanning effect is much deeper and requires only a maintenance exposure of about 2-3 times per month compared to every 48 hours for regular tanning beds. They are much more expensive to operate, thus more expensive for the user. Retail prices in the $20,000 to $35,000 range are common with individual sessions costing $20 to $45, depending on the market.
Facial lamps
High pressure facial bulbs typically begin at 400 watts which are the most common type of “facial” bulbs in low pressure tanning beds. Other high pressure tanning bed bulb varieties include 500 watt, 1000 watt, and even 2000 watt units and can also be used in stand up tanning booths.
High pressure tanning beds require special filter glass to remove the UVC and the majority of the UVB that is emitted and are difficult to manufacture because the alignment of the lamps is more critical than in traditional low-pressure tanning beds.
Spaghetti tanning bed lamps
This term refers to a type of lamp which is very thin and may range from 25 to 40 watts in power. They are used in tanning beds with special arm, shoulder, or side tanners.
Dual Sun Lamps
Refer to tanning bed bulbs which are “painted” on one end of the lamp where your face may be. The idea here is to block the UVB light with a external paint of some source, only allowing the UVA light thru, simulating a high pressure facial lamp.
Active Ingredients
European tanning beds generally use a different type of lamp as well, with UVB ratings in the 1% to 3% range (using US measuring methods) whereas most tanning beds sold in the US use 4.2% to 6.5% UVB ratings, and aftermarket lamps with up to 8.5% or higher being popular. Of course, these lamps have less UVA and will produce a sunburn quicker, but many Americans seem to like them because a short session produces a "reddening", or instant gratification. These lamps actually produce a slower deep tan (but a faster base tan) that fades faster, but are simply marketed as "hotter", although technically they have about the same amount of UV but with different ratios of UVA and UVB.
UVA vs UVB
A tanning bed bulb is basically divided between the % of UVA and UVB light in which the bulb emits. A typical home tanning bed with a 20 minute maximum exposure time would have a 5% UVB and 95% UVB blend. Keep in mind when selecting a tanning bed bulb, as the UVB goes up, the bulb becomes more burning or reddening. As the UVB goes down the bulb becomes more bronzing or browning.
When to change tanning bed bulbs
Most manufacturers recommend changing their bulbs when they reach around 70% of their original value as read on a UV light meter. Conventional thought is that if the manufacturer says the bulb is good for 1000 hours, most owners will change the bulbs at the 700 hour mark if they do not have a UV light meter.
UV Light Meters
A UV Light meter is used to measure the UV output of a tanning bed bulb and can be purchased at most tanning supply providers. The concept of working with a UV light meter is to first measure “baseline” data when the bed and bulbs are brand new and everything is dust free, etc. Measure the same point 1 inch from both the top and bottom acrylic and record in a notebook. Then, on a monthly basis, record the value and continue to monitor the UV light level until it reaches 70% of original value and then replace the bulbs!
A UV light meter is also a great way to see the improvement of tanning bed bulb strength after the bulbs and acrylics have been clean and serviced.
How to choose the right tanning bed bulb for you
To find out which tanning lamps are right for you, first go through a tanning salons inventory of equipment in the proper order. Make sure the salon operator can give you the UVB %’s of all tanning beds in the salon and begin with a session or two in the 20 min beds with 5% UVB and then a few sessions in the 2nd level beds with 15 minute high intensity lamps that have a 8.5% UVB.
These 8.5% UVB tanning bed bulbs will turn your skin more “red” at first and then fade to brown. If you are a person who buys tanning bed lotion with a “tingle” factor, which turns your skin red, then you will love the 8.5% UVB lamps and your search is over.
However, you should also try the 3rd level of bulbs which are the 160 -220 watt family and usually contain 2% or lower UVB. The beds may contain anywhere from 35 to 60 bulbs and are considered “bronzing” beds because of the low UVB. Keep in mind; you must have a base tan or melanin present in your top layer of skin to see any results from a session with low UVB tanning bed bulbs.
Finally, you may be able to find a true “high pressure” tanning bed in your town to give a try. These mega beds will have only the high pressure tanning bed bulbs, which are identified by the square blue glass which filters all UVB. These are pure bronzing beds for advanced tanners who maintain a dark tan year round and are much more expensive to buy and to tan in a salon on a regular basis.
Most home tanning beds will contain 100 watt lamps and have 20 minute maximum session times with 5% UVB lamps. If your tanning bed was originally a 30 minute bed, the new bulbs will now make it a 20 minute maximum session. You may choose to install the high intensity 100 watt lamps with a 8.5% UVB and should expect to pay only $1 more than the 5% UVB bulbs.
Tanning Bed Bulb Manufacturers
Wolff tanning lamps
Several companies continue to license the Wolff name and use their lamps because of the name recognition, although this has steadily diminished over the years as other lamp builders have created lamps that are arguably as good as or better. Licensing is not required to use Wolff lamps, but it is required to call a tanning bed a "Wolff System" and use the Wolff System logo, a yellow circle with horizontal bars and the name "Wolff Systems" in black. Tanning beds that use Wolff products but do not pay royalties can use only the term "Powered by Wolff," which is unique in the industry.
Tanning bed health concerns
Tanning beds and cancer
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the most prominent and universal cancer-causing agent in our environment. The US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, National Toxicology Program Report on Carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) states that UV solar radiation, and use of sun lamps and sun beds are "known to be a human carcinogen." Some scientists have suggested recently that there may be an association between UVA radiation (the type of radiation that makes up most of the radiation in tanning beds) and malignant melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer. There is persuasive evidence that each of the three main types of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and melanoma, is caused by sun exposure. Women who visited a tanning parlor at least once a month were 55% more likely to later develop melanoma than women who didn't artificially suntan. Those who used sun lamps to tan while in their 20s had the greatest later risk, about 150% higher than similarly aged women who shunned tanning beds.
World Health Organization statement
Because of several alleged adverse effects on human health, the World Health Organization does not recommend the use of UV tanning devices for cosmetic reasons. For example, using a sun bed without goggles may lead to a condition known as arc eye.
The sun vs tanning beds
The tan produced by a tanning bed is not as deep as a tan produced in the sun. This is because tanning beds have higher overall levels of UV than the sun on a typical day, so the exposure times are shorter than the average session spent in the sun to achieve the same amount of tan. This can cause someone with a dark indoor tan to go outside and get a bad sunburn quickly because the deeper levels of their skin have not been exposed previously, and have no natural protection above what white skin would have. It is strongly recommended that a person does NOT tan indoors and outdoors on the same day, due to the likely chance that they will get overexposed. Because overexposure actually destroys melanin, getting a sunburn will result in LESS tanning. The popular wisdom that you "need to burn to tan" or that a sunburn will turn into a tan is simply wrong, and greatly increases your chances for skin cancer later in life.
My name is Rick Houston and I have been in the tanning salon business for years and specialize in Internet marketing of new tanning beds and used tanning salon equipment. I am also the author of a simple how-to eBook called How to Open a Tanning Salon from A to Z! which can give you invaluable insight into opening your own tanning salon with less than a $20,000 initial investment (and good credit or $50k without it)! You may call me toll-free 888-999-7577, email me here, or join our mailing list here to be immediately notified of new offers.