The amount of UV radiation that a person is exposed to depends on many factors including time of day, season and latitude. The spectrum of UV radiation from a tanning bed is similar to that of sunlight. It is less intense than being in the sun at the equator in June at noon, but more intense than being in the sun in Boston or San Francisco at the same time of year.

Yes. Tanning is your body's natural protection against sunburn; it's what your body is designed to do. Anti-tanning lobbyists falsely refer to this process as "damage" to your skin, but calling a tan "damage" is a dangerous oversimplification. In fact, it's much like calling exercise "damage to your muscles." When you exercise, you are actually tearing tiny muscle fibers in your body. At first glance, when examined at the micro-level, this tearing could be called "damage.

No. The risks are approximately equal. For some time it was hoped that UV lamps could be made safer by making more use of long-wavelength (UV-A) radiation. That type of radiation is much less carcinogenic than the shorter-wavelength UV-B radiation, but one needs more UV-A than UV-B for acquiring a tan.

In general, tanning beds are not considered as effective as UVB phototherapy that is administered in your doctor's office. However, it can serve as a good alternative for those who have difficulty getting to their doctor frequently or have no health coverage. Use common sense when trying light treatment. Gradually increase exposure time to help avoid burning. If you experience intense itching following a light treatment, try decreasing your exposure time and using a good moisturizer.

No. To date, no well-designed studies support the connection between melanoma and UV exposure from tanning beds. The relationship between melanoma and UV light exposure is complex. For example, melanoma is more common in people who work indoors than in those who work outdoors, and those who work both indoors and outdoors develop the fewest melanomas. Further, melanoma most commonly appears on parts of the body that do not receive regular exposure to UV light.

Natural sunlight is a good healer for many people with psoriasis, but there are some who do not respond and some who are made worse. Sunlight consists of several different types of light across a spectrum ranging from infra-red, through visible light, to ultraviolet (UV). It is the ultra-violet part that can help in treating psoriasis.

Discontinue the use of self tanning creams, tanning beds, and any sun tanning methods 4 weeks before and throughout the treatment course and 4 – 6 weeks after for best results. Always use a SPF 30 on sun exposed areas or areas to be treated, reapply every 2 hours throughout the day, and wear protective, light-occluding hats and clothing.

Enlightenment Intensive Retreats are fully residential and a minimum of three days long (some have been as long as six weeks). They start on the evening before the three days begin with an introductory and preparatory lecture. In the sample daily schedule below, the Dyad is the forty minute period where the contemplation-communication takes place between the pairs of participants. Participants work with a different partner each time.

Tanning beds are not safe. Avoid going to tanning salons or using any other artificial light sources.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, frequent visits to tanning salons increase your exposure to ultraviolet radiation as well as your risk for skin cancer. 10 or more exposures in a tanning bed in the course of 1 year can increase your risk of melanoma by 7.4 times. UVA radiation (the aging ray) goes into the dermal layer where collagen and elastin fibers are located. These rays are out all year long and can penetrate glass. These are the rays in tanning beds.

Many experts suggest that tanning beds (also known as tanning booths and solariums) not be used in place of PUVA lamps or Narrow Band UVB lamps or even natural sunlight. The problem with tanning beds is that the lamps in these devices usually emit a much stronger, broader spectrum of UV rays, and may not be as safe or effective for people treating vitiligo, and may result in severe burning or other side effects.

Outdoor tanning lotions are not recommended for indoor use, as they can cause a film on the acrylic and will inhibit the tanning process.

It doesn't matter whether the exposure to ultraviolet light occurs outdoors or in a tanning bed, as all UV light is damaging to the skin. Exposure to ultraviolet light is associated with both skin cancer and premature aging, neither of which is desirable.

Yes. There is nothing in the Mystic Tan® tanning solution that would prevent you from tanning in tanning beds or in the sun. In fact, a number of customers have found that tanning with UV rays and the Mystic Tan® tanning solution actually gives them a better overall tan. If you do plan to use a tanning bed and the Mystic Tan® booth in the same day, we recommend that you tan in the tanning bed first.

Tanning beds basically imitate the sun. The sun emits three kinds of UV rays (the ones that make you tan). UV-C has the shortest wavelength of the three, and is also the most harmful. The sun emits UV-C light, but then it's absorbed by the ozone layer and pollution. Tanning lamps filter out this type of UV light. UV-B, the middle wavelength, starts the tanning process, but overexposure can cause sunburn. UV-A has the longest wavelength, and it completes the tanning process.

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No, unless there is a part of your body that you do not want to tan at all. Remember the sunscreen should not touch the acrylic shield. No, the cooler the tanning bed the more efficient it is. Electrical components do not like too much heat. When you get really hot, it is just your body's reaction to heat (heat flux) and has no bearing on actual tanning.

Health-and-Fitness:Beauty] Home tanning beds are the latest buzz. Everyone is talking about them and it seems that almost everyone get their own home tanning bed. The question is why? Are all those people making the right decision? Well, let's go over the trends.

A mixture of light from different portions of the spectrum is required to effectively tan the skin. It is only through this mixture of wavelengths right across the spectrum that we can control the optimum tanning performance.

The amount of radiation from a tanning bed is low. Birth defects or problems for breastfed babies have not occurred. It's just like being exposed to the sun, so be careful and protect your skin to reduce your risk of skin cancer.

The HIV virus dies upon exposure to oxygen, and would not survive on a tanning bed. The U.S. Center for Disease Control says that the odds of contracting any virus from a tanning bed are virtually impossible. Furthermore, our professional tanning salon sanitizes tanning equipment before every tanning session with an anti-bacterial disinfectant, which kills any and all viruses and bacteria.

The cornea and lens of the eye absorb ultraviolet light wavelengths. If there is a significant exposure to the cornea, it can cause a corneal burn that is quite painful but does repair itself. If the lens is exposed to ultraviolet light in a significant amount or chronically, cataracts can form.

Ultraviolet radiation does not penetrate deeply enough into the skin to affect internal organs, including bone marrow.

Indoor tanning parlors should be avoided, since they expose people to the same kinds of ultraviolet radiation as sunlight. Most tanning devices give off as much as 10 times more ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation than is received from the sun. UVA radiation in high doses, whether from tanning devices or sun exposure, may increase the risks of skin cancer and premature skin aging.

No, many outdoor tanning products contain ingredients which will discolor the acrylic surface and, due to their need to be waterproof, are not designed for easy clean-up and sanitizing.