If you tan, someone has probably told you the story by now you know, the one about the girl who tanned so much she cooked her internal organs? Well, that one is an urban legend. Tanning beds will not cook your insides, but there ARE some harmful effects associated with tanning booths.

Ultraviolet (UV) rays are always somewhat dangerous. There are two types of UV rays, UVA and UVB. The sun emits mainly UVB rays, and they are associated with sunburn. Tanning booths emit mainly UVA rays, which are linked to deeper, more penetrating radiation and long-term skin damage.

It is true that because tanning booths emit UVA rays there is less danger of getting sunburned. But more recent evidence links UVA exposure to malignant melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer. Cases of malignant melanoma are becoming more common, possibly due to the increase in popularity of sun tanning booths.

Overexposure to any UV rays can cause premature aging and loss of skin elasticity. But premature aging and cancer are harmful effects of tanning booths that do not show up for many, many years, after damage to the skin is already irreversible.

There is no completely safe UV ray exposure. It is true that exposure to some sunlight is healthy, because it prompts the body to produce vitamin D, but the amount of sunlight needed for this health benefit is MINIMAL. UV rays are radiation, and over-exposure always causes damage of some kind. Both types of UV rays have been linked to immune system damage.

It is true that sun tanning booths are prescribed as therapy to treat certain types of skin diseases, but as with any medication, there are risks if not used as directed.