| g beds, also known as sunbeds, are devices that | | | | cell carcinoma. Skin wrinkles and sunburns are also |
| emit ultraviolet radiation to induce an artificial tan. | | | | believed to be side effects of suntan beds. |
| This indoor tanning equipment was brought to | | | | Despite the warnings from these societies, |
| North America in 1978 by the German scientists | | | | consumers continue to patronize tanning salons or |
| Friedrich Wolff. Since then, sunbeds have become | | | | use sunbeds in their homes. Surveys have shown |
| some of the best selling cosmetic devices in the | | | | that teenage girls account for the biggest |
| world with an estimated annual market worth of | | | | percentage of users of these beds particularly in |
| $2 billion in the United States alone. | | | | Western countries. |
| Tanning beds work by inducing the skin to | | | | In the United States, the UV output of suntan |
| produce additional coloring or melanin to protect | | | | beds is regulated by the Food and Drug |
| itself from ultraviolet rays which then leads to a | | | | Administration so that users, particularly those |
| darker shade. The products being offered today | | | | who get their artificial tan from salons, get only a |
| provide mixed UVB and UVA rays which simulate | | | | limited amount of UV rays per session. The |
| the light emitted by the sun. There are models | | | | government, though, has refused to uphold some |
| designed for home use and there are also those | | | | medical associations' call for a ban on the use and |
| that are manufactured for commercial or salon | | | | sale of sunbeds. Instead, authorities prohibited the |
| use. Makers of sunbeds have produced different | | | | sunbed industry from selling the products for any |
| sizes to accommodate consumers who might be | | | | purpose other than cosmetic. This rule effectively |
| taller or bigger than the average. Some of the | | | | prevents consumers from filing health claims |
| better known suppliers of sunbeds include the | | | | should any of the suspected negative effects of |
| Tanning Bed Superstore, Hollywood Gadgets, | | | | sunbeds does occur. |
| Master Tanning Inc., Specialty Pool Products, Nova | | | | The market for tanning beds continues to flourish |
| Cos., A1 Tanning Supply and Mercantila. Prices of | | | | despite the ongoing debate concerning their side |
| sunbeds vary between $2,000 and $5,000. | | | | effects. Manufacturers such as Solar Storm, Del |
| The popularity of sunbeds has spawned a debate | | | | Sol, NovaSolar, Wolff System and ProSun are |
| between the industry and several medical | | | | offering various models and different sizes and |
| societies. According to some medical groups, the | | | | consumers continue to shell out money for these |
| use of these beds can cause skin diseases such | | | | devices to acquire the color that some of them |
| as squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma and basal | | | | believe is the perfect skin shade. |