Welcome

Sunbeds Are More Convenient Than the 'Real' Thing

By Richard Warden

Sunbeds have, technically speaking, been around for over a century since scientists developed the first bulbs that would transmit ultraviolet light as well as 'normal' light. These were initially invented at the beginning of the 20th century, and in the 1920s and 1930s evolved further into tanning lamps and so-called wellness devices that could be used in the home - although these were a sort of natural lighting system that mimicked the sun's rays, they were essentially early sunbeds.

Sunbeds as we understand them now were only popularised in the late 1970s and early 1980s. As with many new technologies, they were largely unregulated. That changed towards the end of the 1980s, and now a degree of regulation is common in most countries. Whilst the legal and cultural side of sunbeds may have changed over the years (including their levels of popularity), the technology is much the same - a set of UV-emitting bulbs that stimulates the production of melanin in the skin.

The growing trend for sunbeds can be seen in the number of tanning salons that have opened in recent years, as well as the increasing numbers of units sold that are designed for home use. Although these retail at well into four figures, this can still be considered economical for those who use sunbeds on a regular basis. Nevertheless, salons and health centres often have significant proportions of their premises devoted to sunbeds of various different models, because the demand for such devices is high.

These sunbeds may be horizontal or vertical models - that is, users either lie down or stand in them - and they may employ different powers of UV lamp. The salons typically offer other services as well as traditional sunbeds, including other forms of sunless tanning. Spray tanning is one variation on the theme; the advantage of this method being that it involves no UV light at all, meaning that the risk of burning is eliminated.

Increasing regulation means that such risks are reducing all the time; there have in recent years been a few fairly high-profile news stories in which people have used sunbeds irresponsibly, ending up 'sunburned' as a result. Sunbeds are now almost always attended by trained operators, although there remain some coin-operated automated models that can be used without any supervision.

Nevertheless, it's worth remembering that any source of UV light - sunbeds or the sun itself - carry with them the risk of burning, and therefore further complications (one of which, in the most extreme cases, is melanoma, a form of skin cancer that has been linked to UV over-exposure). When used responsibly, however, sunbeds should not cause any problems. In fact, some have argued that they present a safer way to tan than lying in the sun, since the 'dose' of UV can be carefully controlled, whereas it is almost impossible to judge when you have had a dangerous amount of exposure to the sun. One caveat is that spending time under a sunbed means that you shouldn't spend time in the sun immediately afterwards, since the effect of the UV is cumulative, even if it comes from different sources. All things being equal, however, sunbeds are a fairly cheap and simple way to achieve a tan - something that isn't going out of fashion, and that most people agree makes them look and feel better.

ADSENSE CODE #3