A tanning bed or sun tanning bed is a device emitting ultraviolet radiation (typically 95% UVA and 5% UVB, +/-3%) used to produce a cosmetic tan. Regular tanning beds use several fluorescent lamps that have phosphor blends designed to emit UV in a spectrum that is somewhat similar to the sun. Smaller, home tanning beds usually have 12 to 28 100 watt lamps while systems found in salons can run from 24 to 60 lamps, each consuming 100 to 200 watts.
There are also "high pressure" tanning beds that generate primarily UVA with some UVB by using highly specialized quartz lamps, reflector systems and filters. These are much more expensive, thus less commonly used. A tanning booth is quite similar to a tanning bed, but the individual stands while tanning and the typical power output of booths is higher.
Because of the adverse effects on human health of overexposure to UV radiation, including skin cancer, cataracts, suppression of the immune system, and premature skin aging, the World Health Organization does not recommend the use of UV tanning devices for cosmetic reasons.[1] Using a sunbed without goggles may also lead to a condition known as arc eye.
Tanning beds are used for somewhat different reasons in North America than in Europe. In North America, tanning is more seasonal, where most users begin in January and stop or slow down by June. It is most often used as a way to jump starts the tanning process, so that once the summer begins, they can go to the beach or enjoy other outdoor activities and already have a significant base tan built up. This is also why tanning lotions and bronzers are more commonly used in North America.
Europeans may enjoy tanning seasonally, but less so than North Americans. This is due to many areas in Europe having significantly fewer days of sunshine than North America, so Europeans are more likely to use a tanning bed all year long, for both the cosmetic and mood altering benefits. European tanning beds generally use a different type of lamp as well, with UVB ratings in the 1% to 3% range (using US measuring methods) whereas most tanning beds sold in the US use 4.2% to 6.5% UVB ratings, and aftermarket lamps with up to 8.5% or higher being popular. Of course, these lamps have less UVA and will produce sunburn quicker, but many Americans seem to like them because a short session produces a "reddening", or instant gratification. These lamps actually produce a slower deep tan (but a faster base tan) that fades faster, but are simply marketed as "hotter", although technically they have about the same amount of UV but with different ratios of UVA and UVB.
While the primary reason for both Americans and Europeans to use a tanning bed is cosmetic, there are many other reasons why they are used. It is common for people to tan simply because it makes them feel good. Also, most tanning beds generate a large amount of heat, including infrared, which has deep penetrating action that can relieve minor muscle aches.
The tan produced by a tanning bed is just as deep as a tan produced in the sun. This is because tanning beds have similar levels of UV than the sun on a typical summer day. Exposure times are shorter than the average session spent in the sun to achieve the same amount of tan due to the proximity to the UV source. It is strongly recommended that a person does not tan indoor and outdoors on the same day, due to the likely chance that they will get overexposed. Because overexposure actually destroys melanin, getting a sunburn will result in LESS tanning. The popular wisdom that one "needs to burn to tan" or that a sunburn will turn into a tan is simply wrong, and increases the chances of skin cancer later in life. This makes tanning indoors a better option for people with fair skin types, as they can visit a local salon several times to develop a tan slowly without burning instead of trying to attain the same results at the beach or backyard in one day. It is important to note that if an individual has a skin type that cannot develop a tan outdoors, they will not be able to indoors either.