"My friend's cousin's sister got fried in a tanning bed" ~ MYTH

An old urban myth that pops up from time to time suggests that a person can get “cooked” in a tanning bed. It can’t happen. Although it can’t happen, the legend of the roasted tanner continues to be a popular urban legend. Here’s how the basic story goes:

There was a lady who had to get an instant tan TODAY. Because TOMORROW, she is going to the prom. She’s getting married. Maybe she’s going on vacation. So she visits up to 30 salons all in one day. She asks each of them, “What’s the maximum time I can spend in each one of your tanning units?” They each tell her “30 minutes.”

This story is breaking down already. If you can, imagine a person starting from ground zero with the tanning process, and getting the maximum time in a tanning unit. Don’t you think in most cases, that person would know it by the end of the session? Let’s say the woman doesn’t stop there, but immediately hops into the next unit at your shop and tans for another 30 minutes. And then does it three, four or five times more. Could a person even stand that? You know they couldn’t. The pain would be too great.

At the end of the day, the lady smells a sickly sweet smell. And in the morning…Well, she never woke up in the morning. Her liver had cooked. Her ovaries had fried and exploded. Her brain had sizzled to a carbon block. SAME THING AS MICROWAVES, you know. That part usually gets attached too. Despite all of the different stories that seem to illustrate that microwaves and ultraviolet light are the same thing, science clearly shows the distinctions between them.

Utraviolet light used in indoor tanning beds and microwaves are both forms of electromagnetic radiation. It is important to note, though, that neither is radioactive. The terms radiation and radioactive are often confused, and quite often people think microwaves are radioactive. Recall that ultraviolet light and microwaves occupy spaces far apart from each other. This is because different types of electromagnetic waves have different wavelengths and those different lengths perform different functions. Microwaves aren’t used only in ovens, either. They’re also used in satellite and telephone communications. So it’s important to remember a couple of very simple distinctions between ultraviolet light and microwaves when explaining why this “cooking the insides” story can’t happen.

• Microwaves don’t behave the same way ultraviolet waves do. Microwave
ovens use microwaves (which are radio waves) to heat (cook) food. Unlike
traditional ovens, which conduct heat from the outside of the food toward the
middle of the food, microwaves penetrate the food and heat the food all at the
same time by causing water and fat molecules to twist and rub together.
(Scientists call this “exciting” the molecules.)
• There is no cooking in tanning. Ultraviolet light used in indoor tanning beds
does not enter the body and “excite” molecules. Instead, it mimics the sun
and is designed to mimic the results of tanning outside. Indoor UV works the
same way the sun does, but in a controlled environment. Yes, someone who
gets too much UV indoors or outdoors will get a sunburn, but the length of
time spent under the light can’t change the properties of its effects.
• Ultraviolet light doesn’t travel very deep. UVA travels up to 2 mm, which is
approximately the thickness of cardboard. UVA penetrates more deeply than
any other type of ultraviolet light. With your average tanning bed, this means
UVA penetrates to the upper portion of the dermis – certainly not deep
enough to reach any internal organs.

If you can’t remember anything else, here’s a comparison that’s easy to remember: tanning beds don’t microwave people, and microwaves don’t tan people. Microwaves don’t even tan food, really. You can’t even crisp up a HOT POCKET® without dressing it up in a little foil and cardboard suit.

Final Destination 3 (or whatever the number is) ~ MYTH

You would be surprised how many people see that movie and come in to the salon and ask,
"Can that really happen?". The answer: ABSOLUTELY NOT! This is Hollywood make-believe at
it's most ridiculous. You cannot change the "temperature" of a tanning bed. They're not controlled by temperature. They're controlled by multiple timing systems according to the types of lamps installed. Modern tanning beds have many safety precautions that prevent beds from staying on too long, even if the timer fails, there's a back-up. They all have temperature sensors to monitor the beds as well. If it gets too hot in there, the bed shuts off. Gotta love modern technology.

Rest assured that at Sun Studio, we have NEW, well-maintained equipment with state-of-the art technology. You won't find better maintained equipment around! Your safety is our #1 concern.

"I've heard that indoor tanning is more harmful than tanning outdoors" ~ MYTH

People tanning indoors are exposed to a scientifically calibrated amount of UV light. When used according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's exposure guidelines (posted on each machine), tanning beds are designed to maximize tanning and minimize burning. Conversely, tanning outdoors is an unregulated environment. There are many factors that have to be considered when you tan outdoors: geography, time of day, weather conditions, the seasons, and the ozone layer. Remember the best way to safeguard yourself from sun damage is to wear appropriate levels of SPF sunscreens outdoors - even if you already have a tan.

"I have to burn first, then I'll tan." ~ MYTH

A sunburn does not fade into a tan. A sunburn indicates over exposure to UV-light and actually damages the skin, leaving it inflamed (as indicated by the skin's red coloring and sensitivity), dry, chapped and visibly unappealing. In fact, a sunburn can lead to premature aging and potentially skin cancer. Always practice moderation when tanning and use the proper sunscreen protection when tanning outdoors and the proper exposure time that is recommended for your personal skin type when tanning indoors.

"You can get a sexually transmitted disease like AIDS from the tanning bed." ~ MYTH

The National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have stated that this is physically impossible. The AIDS virus (as well as other serious viral diseases) does not live outside the body. This fear may come from the fact than many people lay nude in sun beds during their tanning session (in order to eliminate tan lines). However, even if there is profuse sweating, the AIDS virus, or other venereal diseases, cannot be passed to the next user. Additionally, tanning salons are required by law to disinfect the acrylic liner in the tanning bed between each use. We use hospital grade disinfectant after every tanner.