Red-Hot Rage: Tanning Bed Burns

The debate over the benefits versus the cost of tanning has been raging for years.  However, one thing is often overlooked-regardless of whether you are outside or in a tanning bed, you will get burned.  Tanning Bed Sunburn is potentially one of the most discomforting experiences one can have and, ironically, one that we all will experience several times throughout our lifetimes.  For a few of us, we will have more tanning bed burns than actual outdoor tans.

As far as sunburns go, tanning beds are moderately better for than you the outdoors.  The main reason for this is because the short-wave ultraviolet rays, or UVB rays are the specific radiation frequency that causes sunburn in epidermis.  The tanning beds are able to find the perfect balance, between giving you UVB rays and UVA rays.  UVA rays causes the pigment cells, the cells that actually tan, move closer to the surface of the skin, exposing them the UVB rays, causing you to get a better tan. 

Which Is Better—Sun Or A Fake-Bake?

However, you can and most likely still will get a sunburn from a tanning bed.  Each person is different and each tanning bed is pre-set to a certain amount of UVA and UVB rays, typically the average.  In reality, few people are truly average when it comes to pigmentation.  Therefore, if you tan, you will burn.  However, the tan is most likely going to be less severe than a similar amount of time in the actual sunshine, simply because you can actually control the levels of UVB radiation. 

That being said, if you do get a tanning bed burn, and you will, you would treat much the same as you do with a normal suntan sunburn.  There is no real way to truly alleviate the burning, but the one all time best treatment of sunburn is –you guessed, aloe vera.  Aloe vera helps cool off the skin, and relieve the feeling of the burning on the skin. 

It is the best treatment for any type of sunburn, whether that burn be from the tanning bed or from the sun. 

The simple truth of the matter is that in large quantities, any sort of radiation is bad for you—whether that be from the sun or from a tanning bulb.  You can’t avoid the sun, and as a matter of fact, tanning in moderation can be healthy, and is healthy.  But, just like fire, you play with it long enough and you will get a tanning bed burn.