Low Pressure Tanning Beds

Indoor Tanning Beds

Low-pressure tanning beds are by far the most common beds found at tanning salons. These indoor tanning beds use conventional low-pressure fluorescent tubes which emit a UVA-UVB ratio similar to sunlight. For example, a typical low-pressure bronzing bulb will emit a UVA to UVB ratio in the range of 97-94% UVA, to 3-6% UVB. It can be argued that low-pressure tanning beds are a healthier alternative to high-pressure beds because they better mimic natural sunlight.

The one major benefit low-pressure tanning beds have over high-pressure tanning beds is the higher UVB component. While admittedly UVB is responsible for burning the skin, it's also crucial for the production of vitamin D. Vitamin D is known in some medical circles as a wonderdrug, said to provide immunity to heart attack, stroke, osteoporosis, as well as deadly internal cancers including: prostate, breast, and colon.

On the downside, low-pressure tanning beds take longer to develop a tan and require more tanning sessions to maintain an existing tan. The "tanning ray," as it's called, is UVA. UVA oxidizes melanin and gives us the healthy looking golden brown color. High-pressure tanning beds have a higher ratio of UVA to UVB and can therefore develop a tan 6 to 8 times faster than low-pressure tanning bulbs. The tan resulting from a high-pressure tanning bed is often deeper and lasts longer because the reduction in UVB doesn't dry the skin out and cause it to shed.