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by: AdrianFletcher
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Word Count: 447

Having tanned skin has not always been popular. Today it may represent health and vitality or an outdoor lifestyle. As recently as the 1940's it represented working outdoors in manual labor or poorly paid work.

As people became more prosperous in the 1950's, leisure time became more of a lifestyle choice. People would spend time at the beach or have social activities outdoors. They had money and vacation time to go to warmer and sunnier climates.

Pretty soon an all over tan could indicate affluence or a healthy lifestyle (which is not completely untrue). Looking tanned became desirable to the extent that people would go to the beach or spend time outdoors purely to get a sun tan.

People wanted a permanent all over tan, regardless of the seasons. Other people wanted to get a tan before they went to a sunny climate for their annual vacation. Pretty soon the idea of the sunbed evolved.

And since the creation of the sunbed, it has proved to be very popular. It is even popular in places where the climate is sunny and people could get a natural tan.

But the question that most people that use sunbeds have and prefer not to dwell on is, is skin cancer caused by sunbeds ?

The answer is very simple. Current research suggests that any kind of tanning, be it in the Sun or being exposed to ultra violet radiation in some other way will eventually lead to skin cancer. The level or duration of exposure to UV rays before a skin cancer develops will vary from person to person depending on their skin type and other genetic factors.

Many tanning salon owners will make the distinction that the radiation that you are exposed to in the sun is different to that of a sunbed. UVB radiation causes the skin to burn and is the kind of radiation you will be exposed to in the Sun. Whereas, UVA radiation is the kind of radiation that you will be exposed to on a sunbed. It does not cause your skin to burn but it is believed to still be just as likely to cause skin cancer.

The point is that any kind of tanning is bad for the skin. Although it is impossible to avoid being exposed to the Sun's UV rays, it is still important to take precautions like wearing a hat and protective clothing. And wearing sunscreen on unprotected areas. The same applies to the sunbed. Exposure to uv rays from a sunbed will be bad for the skin.

Getting a weekly sunbed tan is like going out into the Sun without protection. This seems like a potentially hazardous thing to do to get an all over tan.

About the Author

For further information on the common symptoms of skin cancer and details on the types of skin cancer that can develop, visit http://symptomsofskincancer.net

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