High Pressure Tanning Beds
Indoor Tanning Beds
|
There are typically two types of
indoor tanning beds
you'll find at your local tanning salon, high-pressure tanning beds and
low-pressure tanning beds.
The difference between these two isn't in the beds themselves, but rather in the
tanning bed bulbs
they use. High-pressure tanning beds use high-pressure quartz lamps, whereas low-pressure indoor tanning beds use conventional low-pressure fluorescent tubes.
|
The main difference between high-pressure indoor tanning beds and low-pressure tanning beds is all in the UVA-UVB ratio. High-pressure tanning beds typically emit a higher percentage of UVA, which encourages the skin to tan 6 to 8 times faster. The process works like this, high-pressure tanning bulbs emit just enough UVB to stimulate melanin production, and a lot of UVA which encourages oxidization of that melanin (giving us a deep golden tan color). As an added benefit high-pressure tanning beds reduce the risk of burning, since it's the UVB which causes sun burns.
So why doesn't everyone use high-pressure tanning beds? Some experts believe the high ratio of UVA to UVB isn't safe. UVA can still damage the skin and cause some forms of skin cancer, it can also damage the skin's elasticity. Most importantly, however, high-pressure tanning doesn't help at all with the one major health benefit of tanning - vitamin D production. To encourage vitamin D a higher percentage of UVB is needed, as is delivered with
low-pressure tanning beds.
