The FDA is debating whether tanning beds should be more strictly regulated, since they have been linked to skin cancer.
First of all, we should say that these things can be very dangerous, says Dr. Whelan. They expose you to ultraviolet radiation at intense levels, more intense than being out in the sun for hours. The FDA talks about skin cancer and melanoma, but it also just plain damages your skin. I would like to urge people to be very prudent about use, and, if you asked me, I would say just avoid them altogether.
That said, while we are sure that there are indeed real risks associated with tanning beds, that doesn t necessarily mean that there should be an absolute ban on them, says Stier. There s room between saying something s dangerous and banning it outright.