About Tanning Beds

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By Lizz Shepherd
eHow Contributing Writer

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A tanning bed is a two-sided bed that delivers ultraviolet light to both sides of a person in order to darken their skin. Tanning beds use the same type of UV spectrum that the sun emits in order to create the same tan that the sun would create on a clear day.

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Significance

The main purpose of tanning beds is to create a tan for cosmetic purposes. Another use is light therapy for seasonal affective disorder in the winter.

Function

Tanning beds work by generating both UVA and UVB light, which stimulates the skin to produce more melanin, darkening the skin.

Types

European and North American tanning beds generally have different UVA and UVB ratios. North American beds use between 4 and 6.5 percent UVB light, while European beds use 1 to 3 percent.

Size

Home beds may have as few as 12 UV lamps putting out 100 watts each. Salon beds have at least 24 (and as many as 60) UV lamps that emit up to 200 watts.

Warning

Using a tanning bed is as harmful to the skin as tanning underneath the sun. They are not recommended by the World Health Organization because of the risk of skin cancer.