Common Misconceptions and Medical Myths about Indoor Tanning
Twenty-eight million Americans can’t all be completely wrong. That is the number of Americans that regularly attend indoor tanning salons across the country according to tanning industry statistics in 2007. Even if they were to be wrong, clearly a large number of people have found reasonable levels of benefits from indoor tanning, enough so that they continually go back on a regular basis. If you still have your doubts, or doubt the judgment of these millions upon millions, then perhaps some of the myths addressed in the following article could help you change your mind.

The most frequently pegged myth to indoor tanning is that these salons and booths are one of most common causes of skin cancers that plague Americans today. This is false; actually overexposure to the sun is leading cause of skin diseases and cancers according to the CDC. Additionally, persons faced with tanning indoors versus outdoors are much safer when taking their tanning efforts to an indoor tanning salon. Here’s why: outdoor tanning delivers an uncontrolled and inconsistent amount of UV rays to your body, which generally leads to sunburns, and over time, an unhealthy and unnecessary amount of sun exposure that isn’t necessary to achieve the tanned skin you desire. When using an indoor tanning booth, individuals are undergoing a scientifically controlled amount of UV ray exposure per FDA regulations that allows for the minimal amount of harmful ray exposure to attain the most beneficial and healthy tan appearance individuals desire. There’s no denying the attractiveness of healthy, tan skin, and furthermore, there is no denying the safety of indoor tanning versus outdoor tanning.

Another less supported myth regarding tanning indoors centers around hypochondriac-like fears over the presence of disease and viruses on tanning beds. For starters, the CDC describes the chances of contacting any virus from a tanning bed as remote at best. Additionally, the helpful staff found at tanning salons across the country are required as part of their job duties to clean, sanitize, and prepare tanning beds for the next customer following any usage. If fears over disease or lack of cleanliness are truly too much to bear, then perhaps you should consider investing in an at-home tanning booth, which have also seen a marked rise in popularity over the past decade, which continues to increase.

The last myth this article will address revolves around the misnomer that any form of tanning and sun exposure, whether indoor or outdoor, is completely unhealthy. This myth is funny, considering that humans are the only biological creatures on earth that reside mainly indoors, not to mention all the plant and animal life that would become extinct without sunlight exposure. In fact, the benefits of regular, health UV ray exposure will always far outweigh any individual fears that might arise. Additionally, research even goes as far to show reasonable levels of sun exposure will decrease risks associated with acquiring Alzheimer’s disease, eczema, acne, and disorders of the skin, not to mention ovarian, breast, colon, and prostate cancers.