From Hollywood Hills to the Jersey shores, a suntan remains one of the hottest accessories by outdoor lovers. And, as the weather gets warmer, outdoor enthusiasts turn to indoor tanning for the best tan in minutes.
Only, this quick alternative is a balance between the expected health benefits and potential risks of indoor tanning.
Tanning services are available in spas, gyms, salons, and hotels. These facilities have trained personnel to oversee the process.
Then, are there benefits to tanning? If so, what do you gain by swapping long hours of sunbathing with a few minutes of sunless tanning options?
The following is a quick guide that summarizes 10 benefits of indoor tanning: –
1. Faster Results
Indoor tanning achieves the elusive golden tan you want in minutes. It is convenient when you have no time to sunbathe long enough for a full tan.
Likewise, in winter, indoor tanning saves you unnecessary travel costs to warmer countries to sunbathe.
2. Improved Mood & Self Esteem
Research by WebMD demonstrates that UV contact puts people in an improved mood. Depression escalates during the winter months. This illness can be triggered by a deficiency of natural sunlight, which is thought to upsurge Vitamin D, which advances serotonin levels. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that oversees the maintenance of mood balance.
Tanning beds are relaxing; hence, they elevate your mood. Indeed, studies from ScienceDaily show that UV rays exposure, whether naturally under direct sunlight or indoors on tanning beds, triggers a release of feel-good endorphins.
These hormones improve your moods and self-esteem right away. People are embracing it as part of their identity. Physicians propose it to people with an emotional disorder.
3. Vital Supply of Vitamin D
Vitamin D is an essential hormone for healthy bones, muscles, teeth, blood levels, and skin pigmentation. In contrast, a vitamin D deficiency results in rickets in kids and bone pain in adults.
Then, do you have a vitamin D deficiency? Research from Research Gate indicates that regular use of indoor tanning will help you absorb 40 – 100 nmol/L) Vitamin D levels.
This absorption happens due to the UVB rays from the sunbeds stimulating the skin to produce Vitamin D. Now, since most of the rays from tanning booths are UVA waves, you will still need to supplement the Vitamin D you get from the tanning bed.
4. Acne Relief and Tanning
Now, most acne breakouts occur in persons with oily skin. For this, a tanning session can dry out the excess sebum to diminish acne appearance. Still, these benefits of tanning for acne are temporary, as excessive dryness can irritate the skin.
5. Diminishes Stretch Marks
Suntan or even a spray tan hides visible scars, including stretch marks. Here, the flaws become unnoticeable as they blend into the tan shade. It can be good for you if you are trying to hide scars and stretch marks.
They can make one lose self-confidence. Besides, you can repeat the tanning session as many times as you want to achieve an even tan that completely conceals the spots.
6. Helps You Lose Weight
Believe it or not indoor tanning can help you lose weight. This is by boosting your metabolism, indoor tanning facilitates fat burning, leading to weight loss. The Ultra-violet rays activate the thyroid gland, escalating the metabolism rate.
You burn more calories when your metabolism is high. Thus, tanning bed weight loss helps you to maintain a healthy lifestyle. For more on this check our article – does tanning burn calories.
7. An Economical Solution
Now, if you live in cold countries with limited sunlight, getting a good dose of sunshine may mean having regular trips to warmer countries for holidays.
It is a costly approach that involves booking flights, accommodation, and spending a significant time sunbathing at remote locations. Yet, for an affordable price, you get the tanning bed benefits in minutes.
Certain spas and gyms offer discounts to their regular clients. They are making it cheap for people with a tight budget. Also there is the option for buying your own tanning bed though the cost of the tanning bed and the space needed should be considered.
8. You Are Under the Supervision of Professionals
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) makes regular recommendations to tanning spas and salons regarding safe exposure to UV rays from a tanning machine.
In turn, the salon professionals and supervisors have policies and controls that ensure no one gets UV waves exposure beyond the time and intensity recommended by FDA. In turn, reports like the one by Reuter Health show that the risk of developing skin cancer or any other chronic skin condition from using a tanning bed is less than 1 percent.
9. Darkens Jaundice Complexion
If you struggle with jaundice skin, you know you need to avoid direct sunlight at all costs. See, direct sunlight has harmful rays at high intensities and could lead to sunburn and skin cancer on the delicate jaundice skin.
In contrast, filtered UV rays from the sun or tanning beds break down the bilirubin, facilitating the liver to process it further.
Related Questions
How Often Should You Do Indoor Tan?
Salon and spas professionals recommend doing indoor tanning up to three times a week and not more than once per day. This recommendation is per FDA guidelines and warnings that prohibit getting more than one tanning session each day.
Are Tanning Beds Safe in Moderation?
Yes. Moderation is one of the key pros of tanning beds. Tanning beds offer you the option of regulating the amount of radiation exposure you get. In turn, you can set the timer and intensity at a safe level. That way, you avoid getting sunburns, skin damage, or skin cancer. Use everything, good or bad with caution.
