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F.A.Q.
: Can
Tanning Damage Internal Organs?
Almost every year since 1987, when we opened Tan Plus,
someone asks us if you can fry your insides in a tanning
unit. Their question is based on a story they had heard that
goes something like this:
The day before her wedding a woman needs to achieve a
quick suntan. She spends the day going from one tanning
salon to another doing 30 minute sessions in each one. She
was later admitted to a hospital and died as a result of her
internal organs being cooked.
There may be variations of the story but, in every case,
the person referring to the story doesen't seem to know the
victims name (it is always a friend of a friend, etc.), the
hospital where she was admitted, or even the town or city
where the incident took place. The reason they don't know
this is because "cooking your insides" from a tanning unit
is a myth...it never happened. While excessive tanning
exposure can result in long-term skin damage, it is not
possible for UV exposures to "cook" ones insides, no matter
how long or how much you tan.
Indoor tanning represents a controlled method of
obtaining a cosmetic tan. The tanning process occurs
primarily within the outer layer (epidermis) of the skin.
Sunlamps use a combination of UVB and UVA rays. A minimal
amount of UVB is used to stimulate the production of
melanin, while the UVA portion oxidizes (darkens) the rising
pigment. UVB, being the shorter wavelength of the two, only
offers enough energy to penetrate the epidermis. The UVA
wavelength is longer and can penetrate through the epidermis
and into the dermis (second layer of skin), with some
migration into the subcutaneous (third) layer of skin. There
isn't enough energy produced by these wavelengths to
penetrate any further.
Tan
Plus...Experience The Difference
Copyright
© 2000
- 2006 • Ray Allard • All Rights
Reserved
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