A tanning lamp produces ultraviolet radiation and it can either be a low pressure or high pressure unit. High pressure units are known as bulbs while low pressure ones are known as lamps ; but, there are many exceptions and, no one is really very set in following these categorizations. However, both types need to have an oxygen free environment within the lamp. In addition, the tanning lamp needs to have a ballast to make power available.
Main Aim
The main aim of using a tanning lamp is to obtain a suntan without need to lie out in the sun and, how good a quality of suntan that can be obtained will depend on the spectrum of the light being generated by the lamp. It is the norm that these devices will produce much more ultraviolet radiations than would normal sunlight and, thus provides users with faster base tans though; the tan may wear off faster and, it does not provide as much protection from the sun as is the case with natural tans.
Tanning lamps may also be used for treating psoriasis, eczema as well as for curing or aging wood used in building violins, guitars as also other musical instruments. They may also be used for water purification as well as sterilizing medical instruments.
However, there are concerns regarding the use of tanning lamps which could cause an increase in the incidence of skin cancer, with young users being most at risk. With artificial tanning becoming more popular, tanning lamps may be a real source of some skin cancers such as basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma that together cause the most malignancies in humans. Since being exposed to ultraviolet radiation or UVR from the sun can cause skin cancer and, these devices mimic sunlight, there is reason to believe that users may be affected adversely and, may be more prone to developing skin cancer as a result of using them.
People that use a tanning lamp may get themselves burnt in a manner similar to sunburn which is closely linked with the three main types of skin cancer. There is every likelihood that people using tanning lamps would be two and a half times more at risk to developing squamous cell carcinoma and, one and a half times more at risk to developing basal cell carcinoma than those not using such artificial means.
It has also been found by researchers that the risk of basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma was higher in youths and, was twenty percent and ten percent higher respectively for youth who used a tanning lamp. The tanning lamp is therefore not a very safe means of obtaining a browner skin color and, should be used with care.