Solarium: benefits and harm - the effect of ultraviolet rays on health

Velvety, tanned bronze skin is the dream of many modern fashionistas. If several centuries ago pale, transparent skin was considered an integral part of a beauty’s appearance, today the beauty format has swung in the opposite direction. The bronzer the tan, the “more expensive” a woman looks. Therefore, ladies from many countries are ready to spend a lot of time in a creepy-looking box, the desire to get a chocolate skin tone is stronger than the fear of closed spaces. Many people have heard about the dangers of solariums for women and men. We will try to figure out whether relaxing in a tanning studio can really lead to dangerous consequences and whether a solarium is beneficial.

What is a solarium
The benefits of tanning in a solarium
How harmful is a solarium?
Contraindications for tanning in a solarium
How to visit a solarium without harm to your health
Reviews about the benefits and harms of solariums

How ultraviolet rays affect the body

Ultraviolet rays come in different lengths and are therefore divided into three groups: UV-A, UV-B and UV-C. Unlike infrared radiation, ultraviolet radiation can change chemical processes.

UV-C is the most active in this regard. It is these rays, acting on oxygen, that destroy it into atoms, which leads to the formation of ozone, which actively absorbs them, so they most often do not reach the surface of the globe. Of course, if you do not take into account the formation of ozone holes, which sharply increases the level of radiation.

UV-B is also largely absorbed by ozone, with only a small portion typically reaching the ground. But it is this spectrum that actively affects the body, and while UV-C coagulates the body’s proteins, UV-B can simulate metabolic processes and increase immunity if its doses are low. Irradiation in large quantities can lead to cell mutation. Ultraviolet rays of group B can affect the body both positively and negatively.

UV-A rays do not penetrate deep into the skin, but they oxidize the melanin pigment found in epithelial cells, which causes darkening or tanning. The color of a tan also depends on the amount of melanin in the surface layer - the less it is, the more difficult it is to tan. Therefore, some people cannot tan, their skin becomes red, inflamed, and sometimes covered with small pigment spots that form in areas with a high melanin content.

By the way, the activity of the melanocytes that produce it increases under the influence of UV-B rays, and at the same time, the development of melanoma cancer is also associated with them. So can a solarium, whose lamps create artificial ultraviolet rays, be safe? What is more harmful than the sun or a solarium?

How does tanning occur?

When exposed to the sun, the skin produces special cells that contain melanin. It protects the skin from ultraviolet radiation. Therefore, tanning is a protective reaction of the body. The ultraviolet light emitted by lamps is significantly different from sunlight. This type of radiation penetrates deeply into the skin, damaging cellular elements. The use of this particular ultraviolet light is explained by the rapid onset of tanning.

What is a solarium

A solarium is a device with lamps that generate ultraviolet rays. According to manufacturers, special filters completely exclude UV-C rays, and UV-A and UV-B are in the optimal ratio. The only thing is that this ratio is individual for people of different skin types, and those who are chasing profit and installing lamps with a high content of UV-B rays do not think about the danger to the client.

Another problem is that the lamps have an expiration date; after working for 600–800 hours, they will not be able to provide a normal tan. Therefore, it is important that they are changed conscientiously and on time. And in the first 50–100 hours of their operation, they warned the client that the duration of stay in the solarium should be reduced, since the new lamps emit more efficiently and the rate of irradiation increases.

Now there are many different solariums, horizontal and vertical, with increased comfort (aromatherapy), but, most importantly, safety. What does a solarium give us, benefit or harm?

How to sunbathe correctly (rules)

You need to tan correctly. Rules are identified, following which it is possible to obtain a beautiful tan and reduce the harm of the service. What to do?

Rules:

Before the procedure, you must speak with your doctor.
The salon is chosen carefully, they check whether hygiene rules and all standards are followed. It is recommended to pay attention to the lamps; they must be special.
Moles and wounds are covered with adhesive tape, cosmetics need to be washed off.
A special cap is put on the head to protect the hair. The eyes are covered with special glasses.
You are not allowed to visit the establishment every day; your skin needs rest.
The duration of the session should not exceed half an hour. For the first time, being in a solarium lasts no more than three minutes.
To reduce the harm from radiation, it is recommended to use special cosmetics to obtain a high-quality tan and protect the skin from burns.
If the condition worsens, the procedure must be stopped.

All rules apply to sunlight as well. Exposure to the sun requires caution and attention.

Benefits of ultraviolet rays

To find out whether there are benefits from visiting a solarium, you need to understand how ultraviolet rays affect a person.

tissue regeneration
UV rays can stimulate the body's production of vitamin D, which is necessary for the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus. Its deficiency can cause rickets in children, bone diseases, brittle bones and much more.
They enhance redox processes, activate enzymes, and improve the metabolism of proteins and carbohydrates.
Strengthen tissue regeneration and blood supply.
They improve the overall tone of the body due to the increased production of biologically active substances and endorphins (hormones of joy).
They increase overall immunity by stimulating the production of antibodies and phagocytic activity.

Ultraviolet ray therapy is often used to prevent various diseases, increase immunity, and for diseases of the nervous system, skin, bones and joints. But all this manifests itself only when exposed to ultraviolet rays in a small dose, and it must be done under the supervision of a doctor. And if you exceed the dose, trying to get a tan faster, the effect can be disastrous.

Harm from ultraviolet rays

How harmful is a solarium? Ultraviolet rays affect chemical processes in the tissues of the body and with prolonged intense irradiation this can cause:

dermatitis
suppression of the body's immune system;
skin burns;
development of dermatitis;
development of malignant skin tumors (melanoma);
eye diseases (conjunctivitis, cataracts).

The number of malignant skin diseases is growing every year, and it is not without reason that scientists and doctors are trying to convey to the population that excessive exposure to UV rays is dangerous. Many people, without thinking about it, still try to tan using a solarium.

The fact is that skin cancer does not always occur immediately; ultraviolet rays activate cell mitosis and in some cases damage DNA, and these damaged cells can lie dormant for a long time, and under certain conditions begin to multiply, causing the development of cancer.

Many tumors have the same development, for example, 40% of patients with brain cancer noted irradiation of the head 10–15 years ago before the disease. Is it worth risking your health by artificially irradiating your skin? The risk of skin cancer among those who regularly visit a solarium increases by 75% with age, studies show.