When using tanning beds properly it will give you a natural look to your wintry pale skin. When exposed to UVB rays it will stimulate and produce skin pigment called is melanin which makes your skin turn dark. Any type of exposure to UVB rays is not good; if you are exposed for any amount of time you will need to have some type of protection. If you have a family history of skin cancer, its all the more reason to take extra cautions. Some older tanning beds use the older style of lamps, these lamps emit UV A rays which is not good for your skin. There have been reports that UV A radiation has been know to cause cancer of the skin. It has been reported that skin cancer is on the rise, with the ozone depleting and the popularity of tanning beds.

Today, devices that emit a combination of UVA and UVB are predominantly used. If you expose your skin to UV rays many different types of complications can occur, you could get skin rashes, skin will age you might get skin cancer. Exposure to UVB can cause skin burning; the best protection against this is to cover up your skin. 99% of the sun’s UV radiation at sea level is UVA. The UV that is dangerous to your skin is the UVB; this is the rays that can cause aging, blotches, wrinkles and even cancer. It is the UVA and UVB rays that are the most harmful to our skin. UVB is easier to protect against than UVA, but both cause very real damage.

When exposing your skin to UV rays it is very possible it will cause premature spots, blemishes, aging and maybe skin cancer. Using a bit of precaution such as purchasing a good tanning lotion or attending one of your local sunless tanning salons is a good first step to protecting yourself. Tanning beds have become very popular because everyone wants a natural looking tan, many people have been purchasing home beds to tan themselves.

When tanning lotions first came out on the market they made everyone look orange, today they improved this and now people look like they really have a tan. Today the self tanners come in many shades, since everyone does not have the same skin pigment it is easier to match your skin type. When using tanning sprays or self tanners the color does not last very long, on average it lasts about 5 to 7 days. Getting a tan without the sun has becoming very popular because it reduces the risks of getting skin diseases. Tanning sprays have become more advanced since they were developed, they protect your skin against the sun and give you a tan without needing the sun, and some even have moistures in them to enrich your skin.

One of the drawbacks of these tanning lotions that dye your skin is that they do not last very long and you need to keep applying it to keep the color constant. The reason for this is because your skin continuously sheds old skin and replenishes your body with new skin so you will loose the color from the tanner. Also, you should test the tanner on a hidden part of your body before applying it over all of your skin.

Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a troubling condition causing depression and other psychological and physical symptoms. This usually kicks in full swing during the winter months when people are exposed to less UV light. Shorter days and more time indoors because of bad weather limit sun exposure and this can lead to mood disorders. Indoor tanning methods are an innovation that may help control SAD.

SAD is linked to a chemical imbalance in the brain of two neurotransmitter chemicals called serotonin and melatonin. Melatonin is produced by the skin’s pigment cells. Light exposure radically affects pigment cells and melatonin levels. Too little light interferes with melatonin regulation and this is believed to cause Seasonal Affective Disorder symptoms.

It may seem strange to consider indoor tanning as anything other than cosmetic, but some health insurance companies will now pay for a tanning bed as a Seasonal Affective Disorder light therapy. Indoor tanning is a way to apply heliotherapy, which literally means “sun treatment” and indoor tanning is basically artificial sunlight.

Light boxes and special lamps have long been part of the treatment of SAD which may also require “talk” therapies and medications such as antidepressants, but tanning methods are newer. Not all therapists agree that this is a good treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder but the numbers of health providers considering it continues to grow.

An added benefit to using indoor tanning as the means of increasing UV exposure for SAD is that a tan may make a person feel better about their appearance and be an additional treatment for this seasonal depression. Improving melatonin balance in the body can also help other symptoms such as insomnia. Heliotherapy also increases vitamin D production which has many important roles in body function and acts as an antioxidant.

If you or a loved one suffers from SAD, or you think they or you may have the condition, you need to discuss heliotherapy with your physician before buying equipment or signing up with a tanning salon. There are some conditions which make heliotherapy inadvisable, such as glaucoma, cataracts, retinal detachment, eyes sensitivity, lupus, bipolar illness or any rash with a fever. Certain medications also do not mix with too much sun, real or artificial, so discuss all medications you take as well.

Aaron Andrews is a long time tanning bed user. After working in tanning salons since the mid-1980′s, he started working for a tanning bed manufacturer and supply company. He now puts his years of knowledge and experience into a series of tanning tips to help you make the best tanning decisions and operates TanIndoors.com a site dedicated to improving your indoor tanning experience