Discover the Reality of Tanning Bed With Red Light Therapy

Tanning is a popular beauty procedure among adults, mainly in North America and Europe. Indoor tanning beds administer ultraviolet (UV) light, which is associated with various health risks. Increased incidence of skin cancer is the most serious of them. In 2014, the U.S. FDA re-classified tanning devices from class I to class II products, suggestive of higher potential health risks than the initial premise. Most countries have enforced a strict ban on tanning beds for minors.

Red light therapy is believed to stimulate collagen production, improve blood circulation, and promote skin healing. Thus, it is often marketed as a skin rejuvenation or anti-aging treatment. Lately, tanning beds are equipped with red lights with the intention of countering the ill effects of UV radiation. Let’s explore the potential reasons for combining red light with UV in tanning beds.

What is a tanning bed with red light therapy?

A traditional tanning bed is an apparatus that emits UV light to tan the skin. It has several fluorescent lamps that predominantly emit UVA (320–400 nm) and a small fraction of UVB (280–320 nm).

A tanning bed with red light therapy, referred to as a hybrid bed, is a newer development. It delivers the traditional ultraviolet tanning radiation as well as red light therapy (625–780 nm). Such beds are marketed to offer the cosmetic benefits of tanning as well as the potential skin rejuvenation benefits of red light. Although red light therapy may potentially reduce the skin damage caused by tanning, there is no scientific evidence to support this alleged claim.

The addition of red light irradiation does not eliminate the risks associated with UV radiation, thus, hybrid beds likely fall under the same legislative regulations as traditional tanning beds. Consequently, they, too, are strictly banned for minors in many parts of the world. The strict regulations, together with the lack of safety and efficacy studies, explain their scarce presence in salons or spas.

Risks associated with tanning beds

The UV component of solar radiation is made up of UVA, UVB, and UVC. UVC is the most harmful one, followed by UVB, which may cause sunburn and cancer. UVC and the majority of UVB are absorbed by the ozone layer, unlike UVA, which has the longest wavelength. Thus, the UV component of solar radiation is composed of 95% of UVA and 5% of UVB. For this reason, tanning beds are utilizing both UVA and UVB radiation.

Indoor tanning beds use UVA as the primary source of light but several times higher than natural sunlight. UVA radiation penetrates the skin and stimulates melanocytes, which produce melanin pigment. Increased melanin production results in a darker skin tone.

UVA type of radiation, especially UVA1 (340–400 nm), is known to penetrate deeper into the skin and provide a quick tan. While UVB rays may be responsible for causing sunburn, they are essential for creating a longer-lasting bronze tan through increased melanin production. As described earlier, melanocytes absorb UV radiation and produce melanin. This melanin protects deeper skin layers from burning and further damage to some extent.

UVA rays cause skin damage and indirect DNA damage induced by oxidative stress. On the other hand, UVB rays cause direct DNA damage. Both types of UV radiation may contribute to the incidence of melanoma, which is also sometimes referred to as the most aggressive and lethal form of skin cancer. A meta-analysis assessing 54 studies confirmed that indoor tanning may increase the risk of some types of skin cancer, including melanoma.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a part of the World Health Organization (WHO), has classified UV-emitting tanning devices as a group 1 carcinogen for humans. FDA regulations require the display of warnings about skin cancer risks on indoor tanning devices. The use is also prohibited for kids under 18.

First exposure to tanning beds at a younger age has been associated with a significantly higher risk of melanoma. The risk is also higher with more frequent tanning sessions. One has to be aware of all these risks.

Can red light therapy minimize the side effects of tanning beds?

There is no evidence that suggests the protective effect of red light therapy while using a tanning bed. Red light therapy is believed to work via photobiomodulation (PBM) by stimulating cells to promote various cellular mechanisms. For instance, PBM has been suggested to stimulate human fibroblasts to produce collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid, thus promoting skin rejuvenation.

Red light therapy has also been reported to be beneficial for pain relief and inflammation reduction, too. As seen in the earlier section, some of the risks of indoor tanning procedures, namely painful sunburns and premature aging, may be reduced with the help of red light therapy.

Theoretically, it seems possible to alleviate some of the risks of indoor tanning by introducing therapeutic red and near-infrared light in the tanning device. However, there are no scientific reports to establish this possibility. Moreover, its safety needs to be confirmed with thorough research. There might be even a chance that the combination of two kinds of radiation utilized at the same time may turn out to be more dangerous.

Safer methods for achieving a tan

Sunless tanners refer to a variety of products designed to provide a temporary tan without the need for UV radiation from either the sun or a tanning bed. These methods offer a potentially safer alternative to traditional UV tanning.

Most sunless tanning products, such as lotions or sprays, are dihydroxyacetone (DHA) based. DHA reacts with a protein in the top layer of skin to produce a brown-colored product, giving a bronzed look. As the skin cells shed gradually, color fades away. Although DHA has been approved by the FDA for external application, some people may experience rashes or skin irritation.

Bronzers work like make-up creams or powders, providing an instant but temporary tan that washes off with time.

Utilizing red light therapy safely

Based on the available data, if you choose to undergo red light therapy, it's recommended to do so separately rather than in conjunction with tanning beds.

As we have suggested earlier, red light therapy offers a wide range of potential benefits. Apart from skin rejuvenation, pain relief, and inflammation control, it may potentially help with wound healing and hair growth, among others. It can be administered using a laser source or light-emitting diodes (LED).

A variety of red light therapy devices are available for in-clinic as well as at-home use. These include wand-like hand-held devices, wearable belts, big panels, and red light therapy beds for full body coverage. These red light therapy beds look very similar to the tanning beds, yet their functions are completely different.

The choice of the red light therapy device may be dependent on the desired therapeutic parameters such as wavelength, intensity, session frequency, and budget. It is necessary to consult with the healthcare provider and choose an FDA-cleared device to ensure its safety and efficacy. It is suggested to use as the manufacturer has outlined and monitor the effects carefully.

Final word

UV radiation in tanning beds is well-known for its potentially harmful effects on skin health. That's why their use is controlled by strict FDA regulations. To potentially reduce these risks, hybrid tanning beds with red light therapy were introduced. While red light therapy may help reduce some skin damage, it does not protect against skin cell damage or lower the risk of skin cancer. Currently, no scientific research confirms that hybrid beds offer a safer alternative to tanning. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid using both traditional tanning and hybrid beds.