The Dark Side of TanningNowadays, tanning is taken very lightly. It is touted as a beauty enhancement. No one ever indicates the dangerous side of the effects. The tanning industry has grown tremendously over the past decade. Along with the growth of the industry, the rate of skin cancer is also increasing. Young teenagers are tanning more and more every day and they are never really told about the future side effects they might experience. Let me give you a little idea of ​​the consequences you might face later if you decide to tan in a tanning bed. I'll call this............If you're one of the millions of Americans who want to tan year-round, you might choose to climb into a tanning bed where you're surrounded. by UV light from above and below your body. Many older models of tanning beds use short-wave ultraviolet (UVB) rays, while newer models use long-wave (UVA) rays which have been shown to be less harmful than UVB, according to the Federal Trade Commission. While salons claim UVA rays are safe, experts suspect they may provide a link to malignant melanoma. UVA rays penetrate deeper and weaken the skin's connective tissue. Overexposure to these long-wave rays also causes premature aging of the skin, making it look wrinkled and leathery, and can impair the immune system. Research also shows that overexposure to UVA can damage your eyes. The retina is damaged and the lens of your eyes becomes cloudy, causing cataracts. Tanning is often confused with a sign of good health. In reality, a tan is an indication of the skin's response to recent skin damage. This pigment is designed to act as a shield which, when present, serves to slightly reduce skin damage from subsequent exposure to UV rays. Skin aging and cancer are delayed effects that generally do not appear until many years after exposure. Unfortunately, because the damage is not immediately visible, young people are often unaware of the dangers of tanning. Doctors and scientists are particularly concerned that cases of skin cancer will continue to rise as teenagers and twenty-somethings reach middle age..