Differences Between Tanning Bulbs
If you have ever signed up for a membership at an indoor tanning salon, then you probably heard all about the different types of beds and bulbs. Certain types are more expensive because they are supposed to use different types of light or create a longer-lasting tan. However, you probably found yourself wondering just how big a difference the bulbs actually caused, and what the health ramifications were for each type. Before you make the decision to tan in a tanning bed, you need to understand exactly what you are getting into based on the tanning bulbs in the bed.
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Function
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Tanning bulbs are designed specifically to help you get a tan by mimicking the solar action of the sun. Tanning lamps actually produce the same type of light that fluorescent light bulbs emit, but the light is changed before it exits the bulb through a variety of methods. These methods create UVA and UVB light, which in turn tans your skin.
Features
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Tanning professionals often refer to bulbs as being "hot" when they talk about how tan you can get from a single session. The "hotness" of the bulbs actually refers to the degree of interference that the lamp glass causes for the UV light. The less interference, the hotter the bulb and the tanner you will get. However, the less interference, the greater the risks for other tanning related issues like burns.
Identification
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You can identify tanning bulbs in several ways. They all emit UV light, and are glass tubes that contain layers of gas and glass. As the electrons emitted by the lamps travel through these layers, they are transformed into different UV lights. Tanning bulbs do get literally hot and often have half of their insides mirrored to prevent the loss of "rays" through the back of the bulbs.
Types
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Your tanning bulb selection will depend on your skin type and your desired tan.
Tanning bulbs come in several different types. Some lamps emit higher UVA rays while others emit higher levels of UVB. Higher UVB bulbs result in a darker, faster tan, but they also can lead to serious sunburn and should only be used after you have been tanning for a while. High pressure lamps release mainly UVA rays and are also ideal for tanning, but the tans that they produce tend to need more maintenance.
Considerations
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If you are considering changing the bulbs in your personal tanning bed or you are thinking about altering your tanning regimen, do not simply rely on your salon manager for advice. Instead, talk to your dermatologist. While this can be an unpleasant conversation because dermatologists and most other doctors tend to recommend against indoor tanning entirely, you need an expert opinion on how the change in bulbs will impact your skin so that you do not end up with serious burns or premature aging.
Misconceptions
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Many tanning salons promote the idea that you are actually being responsible for your skin by tanning indoors where you can control the amount of UV rays that your skin is getting. This seems to imply that you would get more UV rays from outdoor tanning. However, you can get up to ten times the UV rays from a tanning bed that you would get from laying out for the same amount of time.
Warning
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It cannot go without saying that tanning can cause skin cancer. Anytime you expose yourself to UV rays, you increase your risk of some skin cells mutating and potentially becoming cancerous. If you must tan, make sure that you monitor the state of your skin carefully and visit a dermatologist regularly for a full check-over. Use sunscreen on sensitive areas, and make sure that you always wear goggles to protect your color vision.
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