Why Tanning Beds Are Hazardous To Your Health

Episode #57 / Jul 30, 2009
OTHER VERSIONS:
Just yesterday, Lancet Oncology, a leading medical journal stated that, "The risk of skin melanoma is increased by 75% when use of tanning devices starts before 30 years of age." While the medical community has known that tanning salons cause skin cancer (the most common form of cancer), there is now finally proof. Dr. Schultz will also explain why tanning beds are so hazardous to your health.
Sandy on August 1, 2009 at 3:48am

I have a very relevant question to follow up on this video, Dr. Schultz!

What are your opinions on Tanda skincare system or Baby Quasar, whereby the Blue LED light claims to kill the acne causing bacteria preventing future breakouts? Would it be equivalent to tanning beds meaning it would harm my skin if I use it?

What about the red LED light which has been indicated to help improve skin tone, and reduce fine lines?

Thank you so much in advance to your answers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Neal Schultz, M.D. on August 4, 2009 at 1:05am

@Sandy: Great question! My opinions on Tanda skincare system and Baby Quasar are that you should expect very limited and unpredictable improvements from them, depending on the types and degrees of problems you are using them for...whether for acne or to help improve skin tone and reduce fine lines.

LED's are definitely not equivalent to tanning beds and usually not harmful for your skin. LEDs use visible light (that's why you can see the light), not ultraviolet rays like tanning beds (less than 400 nm) and therefore are not harmful. Blue LEDs (Panda) are 414nm, in the visible light range; Reds are 633nm, again in the visible range.

It's true that blue LEDs can be helpful in killing acne bacteria but whether it will help your acne depends on the type of acne you have and the strength of the LED's and other factors as well.

In my opinion, buyer beware.

Sinead Norenius on August 6, 2009 at 9:14pm

Great Video Dr. Schultz! I am a HUGE supporter of Self-Tanners and Safe Sun Practices and I feel confident that these new findings are going to make a huge impact on the tanning bed industry. My passion has led me to create my very own self-tanner simply out of my desire to educate people on how deadly UV Tanning is! My hope is that people will finally see self-tanners as the healthy, intelligent choice and stop scrutinizing them as oompa-loompa orange!

-Self Tanning Queen
http://www.selftanningqueen.com