A golden tan is considered in many cultures to be attractive and a sign of good health. To achieve this golden tan year round, many people will use tanning beds. Just a few minutes every few days can quickly and easily leave a person with a healthy looking tan, even in the middle of winter. Some people consider tanning beds a safer alternative to outdoors tanning, under the sun, but this is a deadly misconception. Tanning beds are dangerous, at least as dangerous as tanning outdoors, if not more so.

Tanning bed use exposes the skin to incredibly high amounts of ultraviolet (UV) light, both UVA and UVB rays. These rays lead to dangerous amounts of skin damage, visible as a tan. The UV rays damage the skin cells, which produce more pigment than normal. The skin is subjected to high levels of radiation, even in the short amount of time a person is in the tanning booth.

Skin damage and exposure to harmful UV rays, as seen with the use of tanning beds, can increase a person's risk of skin cancer. Women who use tanning beds at least once a month are 55% more likely to develop melanoma, one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer. Skin cancer is caused by the damaged skin cells, the product of too much exposure to UVA and UVB rays. Even the use of sunscreen cannot entirely remove the risk of sun cancer.

Less known dangers of tanning beds can be just as troubling as the skin damage. The UV ray can lead to eye damage, especially if the eyes are not covered by a specially designed pair of goggles. Using sun glasses, or even just closing your eyes, will not provide adequate protection. Cataracts, corneal burns, and even retinal damage are potential risks of tanning without eye protection.

Taking certain types of medications, such as some antibiotics, tranquilizers, and blood pressure medications, can make a person more susceptible to the UV rays. Those who are fair skinned or who burn easily may also have a greater risk of serious skin damage. Luckily, more and more tanning salons are offering a safer alternative to tanning beds. Spray-on tans can be applied in minutes, and provide a healthy looking tan without any of the risks.

There are no regulations on tanning booth usage, making them even more dangerous. Despite the risk, some people choose to tan several times a week, greatly increasing their chances of skin damage, premature aging, and cancer. Those choosing to tan should remember to use a sun block with a high sun protection factor (SPF) and broad spectrum protection, wear tanning goggles, and to limit the amount of time spent in tanning booths to greatly reduce the dangers of using tanning booths.