Positive Messages About Sunbeds: Sunlight Institute

By Dr. Marc Sorenson, from the Sunlight Institute blog

Although I occasionally try to balance the messages about tanning beds, this blog is meant neither to discourage nor promote their use. The readers should make up their minds after weighing the evidence. In a recent blog, I mentioned some positive messages about tanning-bed use, which included the following:

Tanning-bed use is associated with a reduced risk of clots.
Tanning-bed use is associated with increased vitamin D levels.
Tanning-bed use is associated with stronger bones
Tanning-bed use can cure psoriasis and eczema and tanning beds are often recommended by dermatologists.
Tanning-bed use more than three times yearly is associated with a 40-50% reduced risk of endometrial cancer.
Tanning-bed use is associated to lower breast-cancer risk.

After I posted the above information, a friend from Canada reminded me of research by Dr. Pelle Lindqvist and his colleagues, which demonstrated that both sun exposure and tanning-bed exposure reduced the risk of death during a 20-year study. Women who used tanning beds were 23% less likely to die of any cause than women who did not use them.

In addition, I remembered an older study that showed that tanning beds were able to take winter vitamin D levels up to summer levels in a period of five weeks.

So, along with the bad rap tanning beds are receiving, there is some good news. Who wouldn’t want to live longer in better health? Still, as with all decisions, weigh the evidence and then decide.

Click here to view the post, with citations, on the Sunlight Institute blog.

SmartTan.com news articles regularly report medical and scientific information to keep you abreast of current events related to UV light. This information is not intended to be used by any party to make unwarranted health claims to promote sunbed usage. Indoor tanning businesses are obligated to communicate a fair and balanced message to all clients about your products and services including the potential risks associated with indoor tanning. Contact your Smart Tan representative to find out more about what you can and can’t say in your tanning salon business.