Are sunbeds safe?

A tanning bed or sunbed is a device emitting ultraviolet radiation (typically 95% UVA and 5% UVB, +/-3%) used to produce a cosmetic tan. There are a few units called "high pressure" beds that generate only UVA, but these are much less common and much more expensive. 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. The maximum exposure time in most tanning beds is 20 minutes, but varies from bed to bed. This is calculated by the manufacturer according to the amount of time needed to produce 4 MEDs (minimal erythemal doses). This is essentially 4 times the amount of UV that is required to produce a reddening on unexposed skin. A person would start with a much shorter session time and work their way to the maximum exposure time in about 4 weeks. Every tanning bed is required to have a "Recommended Exposure Schedule" on both the front of the tanning bed and in the owners manual. It must also list the original lamp that was certified for that particular tanning bed, and salon owners must replace the lamps with either the exact same lamp, or a lamp that is certified by the lamp manufacturer to be legally equivalent. Lamp replacement and salon compliance is regulated by the individual state in the USA, whereas the manufacturing and sale of new equipment is regulated by the federal governement. Since many factors can change the performance of any given individual lamp, the FDA requires that every tanning bed model is certified seperately, and lamps themselves do not have MED ratings. Lamps do have typical TE (or Time Exposure) ratings, but these are not used for certifying beds. Session times on beds can range from 5 minutes to 45 minutes, depending on many factors. Because of several adverse effects on human health, the World Health Organization does not recommend the use of UV tanning devices for cosmetic reasons[1]. For example, using a sunbed without goggles may lead to a condition known as arc eye. Hope you find this useful! : )

No, they are worse than lying out in the sun, the UV rays are more concentrated in a sunbed. I would never use a sun bed!

I don't think they are