There are many dangers to using a tanning bed extensively. What makes it more dangerous is the cultural craze for the tanned skin color and the 5 billion dollar tanning salon industry that wants to keep it going. It is important that everyone involved in such lifestyle be aware of the risks and proper precautionary practices.

It’s a dangerous fascination and misconception that a golden glow is healthier and more attractive than whatever natural hue, or lack thereof, you inherited from your ancestral line.

What’s more troubling is the unregulated practice of using tanning beds. Some tanning salons have their own rules when it comes to use but for some, it’s a dangerous habit that needs at least a little regulation from a third party like smoking, drug, and alcohol use.

The level of detriment regular and extended tanning bed use can cause is comparable to known dangers of smoking. Cancers and the disruption of bodily functions are very real threats of both habits. Tanning beds can also cause burns and damage to the eyes. Those looking for faster results may suffer from drug induced photosensitivity.

The damamge to the skin begins with burns and dry, itchy skin. That is just the short term effect. Over the course of extended use, the skin ages prematurely and results in wrinkles and sagging not to mention the greatly increased risk of various forms of skin cancer.

The dangers are magnified as tanning bed users try to magnify the effect of the tanning process. Increasing the intensity as well as using drugs to induce more sensitivity to the ultraviolet rays is both stupid and dangerous.

These tanning accelerating drugs contain chemicals that are not FDA approved for the quantities used as tanning agents. Yet the manufacturers and advertisers push these products to consumers who may be unaware of the risks.

The bottom line is that every person interested in using a tanning bed to develop some darker tones on their body needs to be aware of the dangers so that they can make smart conscious choices in how they use tanning beds.

Much safer alternatives are tanning lotions and bronzers that don’t affect the body beyond the dead skin cells. These products are recommended by many health associations for the relative safety they offer compared to dangerous practices such as tanning beds or even sun tanning.