Last Updated on May 10, 2025 by Giorgia Guazzarotti
“Gio, why don’t you get a tan? You are SO pale.” If I had a penny for every time someone told me this, I’d be a millionaire. I grew up in sunny Italy, where every summer people rush to the beach to get their tan on… and every winter they resort to tanning beds to top it up.
“You look better with a tan,” they said. But I never bought it. Here’s why: a tan is a sign of sun damage. The price to pay for that beautiful golden hue now is wrinkles, sun spots and cancer a few years down the road.
Even if you use tanning beds. Especially if you use tanning beds. They’ve been long classified as known carcinogenic (unlike parabens – just saying), yet there are so many myths about them that make people think they’re safe. Let’s debunk the most common – and dangerous – tanning myths, shall we?
- Why People Still Use Tanning Beds – Even When We Know Better
- Tanning Bed Myths #1: The UV Light Emitted By Tanning Beds Is Less Dangerous Than The UV Light From The Sun
- Tanning Bed Myths #2: Skin Cancer Is Caused By Sunburn, Not Tanning
- Tanning Bed Myths #3: Using Tanning Beds Is Safe If You Use Sunscreen
- Tanning Bed Myth #4: Tanning Beds Are a Good Way To Get Your Vitamin D Dose
- Tanning Bed Myth #5: It’s Safe To Use Tanning Beds Only Occasionally
- Bonus Myth: Tanning Makes Acne Better
- How To Get a Healthy Glow Without Tanning Beds
- The Bottom Line
Why People Still Use Tanning Beds – Even When We Know Better
Let’s be honest: we know they’re bad. Like, we know know. Cancer, wrinkles, sun spots… none of it’s news. And yet… the second someone says “wow, you look so glowy!” after a weekend in the sun, it’s game over.
Because it’s never just about the tan. It’s about feeling better in your skin. About showing up to dinner looking bronzed and put-together instead of pale and invisible. It’s about that weird little confidence boost that kicks in when your skin looks like you’ve been living your best life – even if you’ve just been stuck inside all week.
And sure, we can talk about the beauty standards and the marketing and how we grew up with magazines saying “nothing looks better than a tan,” but sometimes, it’s simpler than that. You just want to feel hot. And tanning works. Fast. No wait time, no streaks, no weird smell. Just boom. Golden, glowing, ready to flirt with a cocktail in hand.
So no, you’re not dumb for still thinking about it. You’re just human. And craving a glow doesn’t make you shallow. It makes you someone who wants to feel good when they walk into a room. Just maybe… there’s a better way to do that without nuking your skin.
Related: A Tan Isn’t Worth Dying For
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Said that, lets bust some tanning myths:
Tanning Bed Myths #1: The UV Light Emitted By Tanning Beds Is Less Dangerous Than The UV Light From The Sun
The UV light from tanning beds is a little different, I’ll give you that. While the sun emits both UVA and UVB rays, the light emitted by tanning beds is 98% UVA – cos those are responsible for the golden tan you crave. But don’t think that makes them safer. Tanning beds may not put you at risk of sunburn (UVB rays do that), but they do cause all kinds of other harm. UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin, destroying collagen, elastin and anything else they find in their path. They make you age faster and give you cancer.
While we’re on the subject, the dose of UVA in tanning beds isn’t just higher in concentration. It’s also delivered faster. Think of it like getting 10 hours of sun damage in 10 minutes. That’s not an exaggeration, by the way. Some high-pressure tanning beds can deliver up to 15 times more UVA than midday sun. For the love of your skin, don’t go there.
Related: What’s The Difference Between UVA and UVB Rays?
Tanning Bed Myths #2: Skin Cancer Is Caused By Sunburn, Not Tanning
Again, there’s a hint of truth here: it’s a known fact that getting a few bad sunburns can increase your risk of getting skin cancer. But tanning – whether it comes from the sun or a tanning bed – puts you at risk of cancer, too. Hear this: the use of tanning beds is associated with a 75% increase in melanoma. And not just that. Tanning beds are also linked to basal and squamous cell carcinomas, aka the most common types of skin cancer. These can be disfiguring, require surgery, and sometimes recur for life. You’re not just risking beauty here. You’re risking biopsies.
Why such a high increase in skin cancer? Cumulative exposure to UV radiation. Damage skin this week, damage it the next and you increase your chances of developing cancer. To add insult to injury, inside a tanning bed, your skin is very, very close to the source of UV rays, so you’re getting a more concentrated dose. That means more damage. Avoid!
Related: How To Treat A Sunburn
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Tanning Bed Myths #3: Using Tanning Beds Is Safe If You Use Sunscreen
If only! Sure, a broad-spectrum sunscreen can greatly reduce the damage from tanning beds. But it CAN’T prevent it completely. And let’s be honest: using sunscreen in a tanning bed is kind of like wearing a seatbelt while drag racing. Sure, it might help a bit, but the whole situation is inherently risky. Some salons even discourage sunscreen use because it “blocks the tan.” That should tell you everything you need to know. And don’t think that “protective” tanning oils are any better. They’re WORSE. They prevent UV rays from drying out your skin, but they offer NO UV protection. None at all.
Related: 6 Things To Look For In A Sunscreen
Tanning Bed Myth #4: Tanning Beds Are a Good Way To Get Your Vitamin D Dose
You’ve probably heard we get our vitamin D fix from the sun. That’s true. What no one told you is that we get it from UVB rays. The light from tanning beds is 98% UVA rays, remember? So if that’s why you’re doing it, hard luck. You’ll get hardly any Vitamin D from tanning beds. Get your fix from foods or supplements instead.
Foods like salmon, eggs, mushrooms, and fortified cereals are great natural sources. And a good quality supplement? Way safer than a machine that cooks your skin. Also, most people in Western countries can maintain healthy Vitamin D levels with as little as 10 minutes of midday sunlight on arms and legs a few times a week.
Related: Do You Still Get Your Vitamin D Fix If You Use Sunscreen?
Tanning Bed Myth #5: It’s Safe To Use Tanning Beds Only Occasionally
Nope! Tanning is never safe! End of. Even using them once in your teens or twenties increases your lifetime melanoma risk. And don’t even get me started on the “base tan” myth. There’s no such thing as a protective tan. Any tan is a sign your DNA has been damaged. Period.
Bonus Myth: Tanning Makes Acne Better
Some people think tanning beds “dry out” acne. In reality, UVA rays may temporarily dry up surface oil, but they also thicken the skin and clog pores. Plus, the damage causes post-acne marks to linger longer. Translation: your breakouts might look calmer for a day, but you’re creating new issues down the line, like hyperpigmentation and texture that sticks around.
How To Get a Healthy Glow Without Tanning Beds
If the goal is that golden glow, there are better ways to get it. Self-tanners have come a long way. They don’t smell like biscuits or turn you orange anymore. Look for gradual formulas or drops you can mix with your moisturiser.
Some of the best ones give you a buildable, natural-looking colour that fades evenly. No patchiness, no weird smell, no regrets. Plus, you’re in full control of the shade. Want a soft golden glow? A deep bronze? A quick boost before an event? Done. No radiation required.
And if you want a skincare routine that gives you natural radiance without colour, go for hydrating serums, barrier-repairing moisturisers, and gentle exfoliants.
Think: hyaluronic acid for plumpness, niacinamide for brightness, and ceramides to lock in all that glow. Exfoliate 1–2x a week with something mild (no apricot scrubs, please), and finish with a moisturiser that leaves your skin dewy, not greasy. Bonus tip? A bit of liquid highlighter mixed into your SPF or moisturiser can give that “I just got back from holiday” vibe, without the melanoma risk.
A dewy glow doesn’t require a tan. It just requires you to treat your skin like it actually matters.
The Bottom Line
Now you really have no excuse to keep using tanning beds. Remember, it’s never too late to stop damaging your skin!
I’ve never used a tanning bed, and never plan to. Just not worth the risk!
Trisha, good for you! I agree, definitely not worth the risk!
I am so glad that you promote safe and logical beauty! It is so important that everyone knows the harm they do when tanning and I wasn’t ever told it was bad. I watched beauty videos for many years and they never say to apply sunscreen first before primer and makeup. Worse, they say to keep your darker foundation for when you tan in the summer! Grr. Thanks, Gio. You really are wonderful and along with all the smart, beautiful women and men who share knowledgeable facts.
I just submitted my portfolio for animation today! :] I’ll let you know how things go! I also received tons of packages in the mail today along with Armani She and Ole Henriksen skincare. I’m going to mail you a lip exfoliator and balm since that shouldn’t irritate your skin or worry you one bit. I’m going to ship out your package this Monday and even if it arrives past Christmas (which I hope it doesn’t), it is still your holiday gift.
Darcy proposed! I’m at that part and she’s reading the letter. :3
Janessa, aww thank you so much for your kind words. It is such a shame that there are still so many people that don’t realize how dangerous tanning and not wearing sunscreens are. Hopefully this blog will help to make even a bunch of them realize that and change their bad habits.
Good luck with that! I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you! How do you like Armani She?
And thank you so much for that, you’re too good to me *hugs*
That’s such a bittersweet part! I fell completely in love with Darcy when reading that.
:] I just looked up the official name and it’s ‘Emporio She’ hehe. It smells really light and seems a bit faint and airy (though it’s actually concentrated) at all and that’s what allows me to do more than one spray on, let’s say, my neck and hair. Since it smells so light, I can smell it forever and it’s like I don’t have enough of it. That aspect also makes it lovely from start to finish; there’s no dry-down time or fading within hours to different notes. It’s a tad spicy and BARELY sweet (like a drop of vanilla in a cup of water). I don’t know exactly how long it lasts yet but it lasts many hours. I don’t even know what all the notes smell like but yes, I love it! :] Can’t wait for Seville a L’Aube!
Janessa, what a lovely description. I’m glad you like it. The spicy but airy bit really intrigues me and I don’t mind subtle scents as the subtleness makes them wearable (unless they’re so subtle you can’t smell them of course lol). Next time I go beauty shopping, I’ll give it a sniff.
I do hope you get a lot of hits for this post. So important! Since last Spring you have to be at least 18 to go to a tanning salon in my Province so I guess it’s a start but I cringe everytime I see one. I can’t believe they still exist! 🙁
Icaria, thank you. I agree, that’s a start, but it’s a shame that there are still so many people willing to put their health at risk like this. *sighs*
I’ve never used a tanning bed.
I’m sick and tired of the tanning obsession. Especially the people who can’t fathom the fact that I’m happy with being pale. I think fake tans are very unattractive, but I wouldn’t say “you ought to drop that and become paler”
Lily, good for you. And I can so relate to that. I have pale skin too and people always comment on it, especially in the summer. I live in a coastal town and everyone in the summer just rushes to the beach whenever they can. When I tell them I don’t like a tan, that I want my skin to stay fair and that sunbathing is bad for you, they look at me like if I were crazy.
And I agree with you that fake tan is unattractive, but saying so to someone would be rude. After all, we all have the right to use whatever products and wear whatever look we like, without being made to feel ugly because of it.
I live in Scandinavia. Not an area of Europe known for its glorious weather! So it just makes the whole thing even stranger (or maybe more understandable).
It would indeed be very rude.
Oh well, at least you’re going to age better than someone who lives somewhere where it’s always sunny and hot. I guess people always want what they can’t have really and it’s kinda sad.