Solarium Effects
One may think of a solarium as being a sunspace or greenhouse, or a room in a house where there are many windows with lots of sunlight; this is accurate. However, suntan beds are also considered solariums. There are known risks to using solariums.
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Medications
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If you are taking certain medications that make your skin sensitive to light or photosensitive, this increases the likelihood that you are going to be burnt when in a solarium. Anti-depressants, high blood pressure medication, anti-inflammatory drugs or drugs that suppress the immune system, antibiotics and medicines that are used topically for skin problems can make your skin more sensitive to ultraviolet radiation, and result in burning and damage to your skin.
The Risks
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If you use a suntan bed or solarium just once, your chances of suffering from the deadliest - albeit rarest - form of cancer called melanoma increases by 22 percent, according to the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency. UVB, or ultraviolet, rays in solariums are much stronger than the rays that come from the sun. You are exposing yourself to high levels of radiation. In fact, the rays can be five times as strong as the noonday sun.
Solariums also emit UVA radiation. Both UVA and UVB rays cause skin cancer. Some solariums have been designed to emit more UV. The higher the level of UV radiation in the solarium, the faster the tanning process. Those who use sun beds or solariums increase their risk of getting melanoma significantly. The risk is even higher if you use a solarium before the age of 35. The risk is then increased by 75 percent. The risk of getting squamous cell carcinoma of the skin is also linked to solarium use.
Eye and Skin Conditions
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Eye conditions, like cataracts, skin cancers and the suppression of the immune system can be the result of too much exposure to UV radiation, either from the sun or from artificial sources found in solariums. UV rays can also lead to premature aging.
Age Restrictions
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When you expose your skin to UV rays early in life, or in the first 18 years, this plays a critical role in whether or not you may eventually get skin cancer, explains Councilcare.nt.com. The 75 percent increase in melanoma among those who began using solariums as teenagers or in their early twenties suggests that age restrictions should be enforced regarding solarium usage.
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