For many years, it was believed that tanning beds were a safer way of bronzing your skin than sitting out in the sun. The reason for this is that tanning beds can filter out UVB rays, which were once believed to be the most harmful of the UV rays contained in natural sunlight. Unfortunately, continued research has shown that tanning beds present as much danger to our skin as excessive sunlight exposure.

There’s no doubt that tan skin often helps us look slimmer, younger, and even healthier in some cases. A glowing tan can also mask imperfections. But is it really worth the risk? Before you hit the tanning beds, here are some things you need to know.

UVB Rays. UVB rays are short, powerful rays that damage the outer layer of our skin. These rays are the culprits when you find yourself suffering from a severe sunburn that leaves you looking like an oversized lobster. Sunburns are the most obvious signs of damage following sun exposure. The peeling and blistering of the skin makes it clear that you have done some damage. While UVB rays do significantly damage the skin and can even lead to skin cancer with repeated exposure, these rays are not usually cited as a leading cause of premature wrinkles.

UVA Rays. The longer and less intense UVA rays found in tanning beds offer fewer visible signs of damage immediately following exposure. The rays penetrate the skin and cause more damage to the deeper layers. A tan is actually as much a sign of skin damage as a painful looking burn and frequently leads to more wrinkles. The UVA rays damage skin cells, elastin fibers, and collagen as they penetrate the skin. As these are all important to maintaining the skin’s elasticity and firmness, the damage causes the skin the break down and form permanent wrinkles.

The Positive News about Tanning Beds. Well, this is actually a double-edged sword. On the negative side, an increase the tanning pigment we know as melanin is a response to damage UV rays are causing to our skin. The positive side is that melanin is our body’s natural protection against further UV damage. The melanin absorbs UV rays and diffuses the energy into heat, limiting the amount of free radicals created in the skin and mitigating the damage. This is by no means a reason to run out to your nearest tanning salon, but it is worth noting for those of us who have been tanning bed junkies in the past.

How Tanning Beds Cause Wrinkles. Collagen and elastin fibers bind the skin together to keep it firm and also offer the elasticity that wards off damage and helps the skin stay wrinkle-free. The UV rays emitted in tanning beds to stimulate melanin production damage and destroy collagen and elastin in the deep layer of our skin. This in turn degrades the elasticity that allows the skin to bounce back from wrinkles caused by repeated facial expressions, leaving permanent wrinkles on the skin’s surface.

Taking care of your skin is important at any age, so protect yourself against UV damage that causes wrinkles, other signs of aging, and even life-threatening forms of cancer. Alternatives to tanning beds, like at-home spray tans and Mystic Tans, are improving drastically. Instead of using tanning beds, find a safer way to get that bronzed look. Your skin will thank you for it!

To give your skin much-needed protection against damaging elements, use a wrinkle cream that defends and nourishes your skin for an overall youthful, healthy glow. Click here for more information on leading effective wrinkle creams.