Buying Your First Tanning Bed
Choosing a tanning bed for your home can seem like a daunting task at first. And it is. Those that do buy a tanning bed for their home usually choose to keep the same bed for a long time. There aren't too many people out there that are serial buy buyers. So if you don't know a salon owner you might need a little help getting started. Hopefully this article will help.
Truth be told I am a pretty lazy guy. I had a gym membership but never went because leaving my house was such a big production. I bought a bowflex and now I work out 3 times a week (OK that's a lie but I work out more). I figured why not apply the same logic to my tanning habits. Leaving the house turns what takes 20 minutes into a 90 minute production. Add in all the money you save by not having to pay salon prices and it's a no brainer.
First I'll explain how a tanning bed works. The bulbs are conditioned to provide UV light similar to the light coming from the sun. UV light is almost the same as sunlight except that you aren't exposed as long compared to the short amount of time you spend lying on the bed. These UV rays stimulate your skin cells into producing Melanin which darkens your skin. Melanin also absorbs harmful UV-radiation. Melanin absorbs about 99.9% of UV -radiation and transforms it into heat. This keeps the generation of free radicals at a minimum. Free radicals are involved in indirect DNA damage which is responsible for the formation of malignant melanoma. Tanning bed rays only permeate the first few layers of the skin as opposed to natural sunlight which goes deeper. Keep this in mind when you decide to take your nice indoor tan down to the beach.
I know- now you're sold and want to buy a bed. We have to talk about features now so we can determine what type of bed is best for you. Obviously cost is a factor, and how to get the bed to your house is a factor too. There are many companies out there that will ship a bed directly to your doorstep that require minimal setup. Many of these companies are constantly running specials such as free shipping and matching your down payment. Choose whatever deal you like the best. Most beds are really simple to set up- I was surprised how small the packaging was when my bed arrived.
Now there are 2 other factors that come into play when purchasing a bed- the number of bulbs and the voltage going in. For home use I would suggest no less than 16 bulbs and no more than 24. When it says a bed has 24 bulbs that usually means it has 12 on the bottom and 12 on the top. There are all different types of bulbs- my bed has 'dual tone twisters' that increase the surface area of the bulb for a more efficient tan. They also have a really cool pink color caused by a special coating that tans my face. Most beds are either 110 or 220v. The 220v beds have a bigger plug that looks like the plug on your washing machine. They are a little more efficient and will save you a little bit of money on your electric bill. You can still get a 110v bed for your home, but most of them are really 220v beds with a buck booster (voltage regulator) built into it.
I hope I answered all your questions. Below are a few places that seem to be offering good deals to buy a bed. Happy hunting.
What Are the Benefits of Tanning?
1. Makes you feel more confident and appear better looking to others. A lot of people claim that tanning will make them look better in certain outfits or that they will look more healthy. Tanning allows people with very fair skin the ability to gain a little color.
2. Releases Melanin which is used to protect our skin from UV rays. The increased production of melanin in human skin is called melanogenesis. Melanogenesis-based tan takes more time to develop, but it is long lasting.
The photochemical properties of melanin make it an excellent photoprotectant. It absorbs harmful UV-radiation and transforms the energy into harmless amounts of heat through a process called "ultrafast internal conversion". This property enables melanin to dissipate more than 99.9% of the absorbed UV radiation as heat and it keeps the generation of free radicals at a minimum (see photoprotection). This prevents the indirect DNA damage which is responsible for the formation of malignant melanoma. - Wikipedia results on Melanin
3. Vitamin D3 is produce when we are exposed to sunlight. Vitamin D is important in maintaining organ systems. To read about all of the positive benefits of Vitamin D check out Wikipedia.
4. Most people feel relaxed in the warm and quiet tanning beds. The fragrances in the lotion produce an aromatherapy type experience for the user.
5. Tanning can help reduce the appearance of some scars, birthmarks, or stretchmarks.
To read more about the benefits of tanning, check out my website which includes the most frequently asked questions regarding sun tan lotions, allergies to lotions, and more.
Prevent Premature Wrinkles by Using Coenzyme Q10 Creams and Other Antioxidants
Premature wrinkles may be caused by illness or disease, but the most common cause is the tanning bed or overexposure natural sunlight. You might like the sun. Many of us do. But, UV rays are not our friends, if we want to look our best, throughout our lives.
Cutis laxa is one of the diseases that cause a prematurely aged appearance. The condition is usually inherited. It is characterized by that that hangs in loose wrinkled folds. In some cases, it is thickened and darker than normal. The joints and internal organs can be affected by the disease, too.
Rothmund-Thomson Syndrome, Progeroid Syndrome, Xeroderma, psoriasis vulgaris and a number of genetic defects cause a prematurely aged appearance. Exposure to the toxins in tobacco smoke, or environmental pollutants causes molecular damage that can eventually result in skin wrinkling at an early age.
But, by far, the most well-known and common cause of early wrinkling is exposure to UV radiation. UVA, UVB and UVC can damage collagen fibers and accelerate skin aging. These ultra-violet rays damage DNA strands in the deepest of the skin's cells, either directly or indirectly.
This does not mean that the use of sunscreen will help prevent premature wrinkles. The SPF ratings of sunscreens indicate their protection against sunburn. UVA radiation does not cause reddening of the skin. So, the effectiveness of a sunscreen against UVA cannot be measured accurately.
In addition to skin aging, exposure to UV radiation increases a person's risk of skin cancer. Studies indicate that there is a higher risk of malignant melanoma, a very serious form of skin cancer, among regular sunscreen users. So, don't trust a sunscreen to protect your face from wrinkling or cancer. Instead wear a hat with a wide brim, use sunglasses and stay in the shade.
Our skin's natural protectors against premature wrinkles include melanin, vitamin A and coenzyme Q10. Melanin is a hormone responsible for the skin's tone. It is what a tan, a freckle and an age spot are composed of. A tan provides protection for the deeper skin layers, but does nothing to improve one's appearance, particularly as time goes by.
A tan does not protect against skin cancer, either. In fact, studies have shown that women who visit tanning salons on a monthly basis are 55% more likely to develop melanoma than women who don't. It may be that the intensity of the UV rays in the tanning bed is responsible for the increased risk. But, regardless, there is no such thing as a healthy tan.
Vitamin A and coenzyme Q10 help protect against premature wrinkles, because of their antioxidant activity. They prevent the molecular damage that causes wrinkling and other signs of aging. This same kind of molecular damage is also the cause of cancer.
Vitamin A creams are sometimes prescribed to reverse wrinkling. Coenzyme Q10 creams are available over the counter and studies have shown that they reverse premature wrinkles by 30% if used on a daily basis for three months. So, if you have the problem, stay out of the sun and try an anti-aging lotion. You could be pleased with the results.
Are Sunscreens Really All They Are Cracked Up to Be?
The SPF of a sunscreen is a laboratory measure of the effectiveness of sunscreen - the higher the SPF, the more protection a sunscreen offers against UV-B (the ultraviolet radiation that causes sunburn). There are two systems for SPF. American SPF numbers are double the SPF numbers on European products. An American SPF 20 sunscreen is the same as SPF 10 in Europe. It is not always clear on the packaging which system is being used.
The SPF indicates the time a person with sunscreen applied can be exposed to sunlight before getting sunburn relative to the time a person without sunscreen can be exposed. This assumes constant solar intensity over the time period. The SPF is an imperfect measure of skin damage because invisible damage and skin aging is also caused by the very common ultraviolet type A (wavelength 320 to 400nm, which does not cause reddening or pain. Conventional sunscreen does not block UVA as effectively as it does UVB, and an SPF rating of 30+ may translate to significantly lower levels of UVA protection.
The Persistent Pigment Darkening (PPD) method is a method of measuring UVA protection, similar to the SPF method of measuring UVB light protection. Originally developed in Japan, it is the preferred method used by manufacturers such as L'Oreal. The purpose of melanin is to absorb UV radiation and dissipate the energy as harmless heat, blocking the UV from damaging skin tissue. UVA gives a quick tan that lasts for days by oxidizing melanin that was already present and triggers the release of the melanin from melanocytes. UVB on the other hand yields a tan that takes roughly 2 days to develop because it stimulates the body to produce more melanin.
Could you explain for me- how UVA damages the skin in terms of ageing, and- is it UVA that can lead to cancerous cells?
UVA, UVB and UVC can all damage collagen fibers and thereby accelerate aging of the skin. Both UVA and UVB destroy vitamin A in skin causing further damage. In the past, UVA was considered less harmful, but today it is known that it can contribute to skin cancer via indirect DNA damage (free radicals and reactive oxygen species). It penetrates deeply but it does not cause sunburn. UVA does not damage DNA directly like UVB and UVC, but it can generate highly reactive chemical intermediates, such as hydroxyl and oxygen radicals, which in turn can damage DNA. Because it does not cause reddening of the skin (erythema) it cannot be measured in SPF testing. Some doctors blame the absence of UVA filters insunscreens for the higher melanoma-risk that was found for sunscreen users.
UVB light can cause direct DNA damage. The radiation excites DNA molecules in skin cells, causing abnormal bonds to form, producing something called a dimer. When DNA enzymes comes along to replicate this strand of DNA, it reads the dimer wrongly causing a mutation, which can result in cancerous growths. This cancer connection is one reason for concern about ozone depletion and the ozone hole. UVB causes some damage to collagen but at a very much slower rate than UVA.
Also, do you know if sunbeds are just solo UVA rays, is that why people can use them because UVB is absent.
A sunbed emits typically 95% UVA and 5% UVB, +/-3% to produce a cosmetic tan
I'd say 50-100 on each would be perfect. I'm not trying to do a really high-tech piece but I thought if people knew that SPF50+=PPD22, it might make people top-up more often rather than thinking that would be enough coverage for a whole day you know?
Personally. I don't widely advise sunscreen as I am a bit unsure about their use outside the proven benefits against non-melanomatous skin cancers. However several epidemiological studies actually indicate an increased risk of malignant melanoma after the use of sunscreen. Despite these studies, no medical expert except myself has issued recommendations to be cautious in the use of sunblock. There are also many synthetic compounds in sunscreens leading to many adverse health effects.
In 2007 two studies by the CDC highlighted concerns about the sunscreen chemical oxybenzone (benzophenone-3). The first detected the chemicals in greater than 95% of 2000 Americans tested, while the second found that mothers with high levels of oxybenzone in their bodies were more likely to give birth to underweight baby girls. Some concerns have been raised regarding the use of nanoparticles in sunscreen, which theoretically could increase rates of certain cancers, or diseases similar to those caused by asbestos
However, my main concern is the use the use of sunscreen also interferes with vitamin D production. This chemical is protective against both heart attack and cancer and there is growing evidence sun may be the real cause of cardio-protection and not the mediterranean diet. There was a Vit D deficiency in Australia after a government campaign to increase sunscreen use. in fact, I would recommend spending small amounts of time in the sun without sun protection to ensure adequate production of vitamin D.
Uncover Reversing Wrinkles
Let's face it. The search for effective tools for reversing wrinkles has been nearly as elusive as the search for the Fountain of Youth. But, unlike the proverbial fountain, the ability to reverse wrinkles actually exists. It has been proven scientifically.
Surgical procedures such as face lifts and Botox injections are effective for reversing wrinkles, but those are old news. The latest news concerns the effectiveness of topically applied creams. Here's how they work.
In order to help you understand how creams can reverse wrinkles, let me explain what causes them to form. Exposure to the sun and environmental toxins triggers an overproduction of molecules called free radicals. Free radicals aren't all bad. They perform some necessary functions, but when there are too many of them, their behavior changes. They start to attack cellular membranes, collagen fibers and DNA strands.
DNA damage can cause cells in the dermis to produce too much melanin. That causes age spots.
Damage to the collagen fibers causes sagging and lost firmness. Damage to cellular membranes causes tiny breaks in the brick and mortar foundation that is your skin. Eventually, the tiny bits of molecular damage add up to fine lines and visible wrinkling. In order to reverse wrinkles, you have to repair the molecular damage.
Antioxidants are known to prevent the damage, but there has been some debate concerning whether or not they can repair it, effectively reversing wrinkles and increasing firmness. The debate may be about to come to an end as research concerning retinoids and, lately, coenzyme Q10 continues to be published.
In one trial, coenzyme Q10 was shown to reverse wrinkles by as much as 30% after three months of use and the volunteers suffered from years of sun damage. Other trials have returned similar results. Coenzyme Q10 works.
But, free radicals are only one of the causes of skin aging. The others include decreased production of new cells and fibers and low levels of hyaluronic acid. Chronic inflammation plays a contributing role and advanced Glycation end-products or AGEs are enemies, too.
The only thing that we can do about AGEs is to reduce the number of simple carbohydrate in our diets. Recent studies confirm that they cause wrinkling.
There are natural anti-inflammatories that can be applied topically. There are extracts that inhibit the breakdown of hyaluronic acid. There are protein complexes that stimulate the production of new cells and fibers. Creams that combine all of those ingredients, as well as numerous antioxidants, are most effective for reversing wrinkles.
Some of the compounds to look for include Functional Keratin and wakame kelp. Functional Keratin contains the active form of the protein that makes up the majority of the skin's outer layers. It has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity. It stimulates the production of new cells and fibers, as well.
If you want to reverse wrinkles, there are other steps that you can take. You can make changes in your diet and improve your sleep habits, for example. But, creams containing the ingredients mentioned in this article provide real help for reversing wrinkles. There's no need to keep looking for the Fountain of Youth.
If you'd like to learn more about little known but clinically tested natural ingredients that are used for treating aging skin, visit my website today.