A tanning bed is an important option to improve your look by getting a tan with no sun exposure or when there is no sun. People use tanning beds to avoid direct exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays and their hazardous effects on skin.

Ultraviolet light has two main components: UVA and UVB rays. The UVA rays penetrate deep into the skin affecting dermal layers. A limited exposure to the UVA rays results in good looking skin tanning, while the overexposure to UVA can causes skin damage such as destroying skin fibers and their elasticity. On long term, we can mention premature aging and wrinkles. UVB rays only affect outermost layers of skin, but they are considered more dangerous due their burning effect.

To increase the benefits of a tan, tanning beds and sun lamps used for this purpose, emit 93% to 99% UVA radiation. That means three times the normal UVA radiation of sun exposure. By consequence, this kind of tanning beds are just as dangerous as sun exposure or even more.

Recently, a study concluded that frequent tanning is addictive. This study defines frequent tanning as performing the procedure 8 to 15 times a month, which is considered much more than it is necessary to maintain a tan.

According to the study findings, frequent tanning has the effect of an addictive behavior mediated by generation of cutaneous endorphins by ultraviolet light.