Many people, especially young women, have tried UVA booths on occasion. However, experts have alarmed of the damages of this type of machines. To better understand how it works, Adriana Ribé, director of the Ribé Clinic in Barcelona, explains that “in theory, UVA machines have powerful filters that eliminate type B ultraviolet radiation, which are the ones that most affect the skin, and they only let those of type A pass, responsible for quick tanning ”.
But, “ although UVB rays are more dangerous, UVAs are not harmless either , since they affect the elastic fibers of the skin. Their accumulation produces long-term aging and precancerous lesions. ”
Increased risk of skin cancer
This last problem is the most worrying. “These cabins increase the risk of cancer , especially melanoma , which is the most dangerous skin cancer, with high mortality rates if it is not diagnosed in early stages,” says Rosa Taberner, dermatologist at the Son Llàtzer Hospital , in the Balearic Islands.
Ribé recalls that it is scientifically proven that overexposure to the sun is carcinogenic, but “tanning beds are more dangerous than sunbathing with protection”.
The World Health Organization ( WHO ) has also warned of the dangers and classifies these devices as carcinogens.
In addition, according to a study by the International Cancer Research Center ( CIRC ) published in The Lancet Oncology , if you start using these cabins before the age of 30, the risk of developing melanoma increases by 75 percent , since that radiation accumulates. “The study also warns of the increased risk of ocular melanoma associated with solar cabins,” says Ribé.
Regulation
With scientifically proven risks, countries have been forced to legislate the use of these UVA rays. “ France was the first country to ban this practice on minors in 1997. Since then, other countries – including Spain – have followed suit. In 2015, in Australia, they were definitively banned, ”explains Taberner.
As Ribé indicates, according to the regulations for the sun of the European Union , these cabins should not be used by people with the following characteristics:
- Very clear and pigment-free skin, such as blondes and redheads.
- Under 18 years old.
- With many freckles or moles.
- You are prone to having spots on your skin.
- As children they burned easily.
- Patients who have had skin cancer.
- Women with makeup, since many cosmetics increase sensitivity to UV rays.
- People taking medications, in which case you should consult the pharmacist.
Aging and blemishes
In addition to skin cancer, ” the use of UVA rays accelerates skin aging, favoring the appearance of wrinkles and various types of sun spots ,” adds Taberner.
According to the expert, people who use tanning booths often abuse “the sun in the summer months and further increase the risks of skin cancer and sun aging.
Benefits?
On the benefits, Ribé refers to the rapid tanning that is acquired. The dermatologist, for her part, recognizes that it can have positive effects in patients with certain pathologies, such as severe psoriasis , cutaneous lymphomas, severe atopic dermatitis , etc.
In these cases and under strict dermatological control and in the hospital setting, “they can be used as treatment.”
In any case, the risks outweigh the benefits and neither of the two experts recommends the use of UVA booths for cosmetic reasons .
