Sunbeds in London- ‘to tan or not to tan’ ?
Everyone wants that glowing bronzed skin, it makes you appear more healthy and happier. Having operated a tanning salon in central london for the last eight years, we at Urban Wellbeing have seen the constant see-saw in users. Below is some useful information for even the hardcore tanners.
-7% of the UK’s adult population uses a sunbed = over 3 million people
-70% of people want to be tanned
-95% of sunbed users do not exceed the European Standard on maximum number of sessions per annum
-88% of the UK population has skin types that can tan successfully in a controlled environment
-38% of sunbed users do so for a pre-holiday tan.
-83% of sunbed users claim to be quite or very knowledgeable of the possible risks from over-exposure to UV.
(Source: Consumer Research on Sun tanning and Sunbeds, The Sunbed Association, UK, 1997, conducted by Taylor Nelson with a sample base of 6143 adults.)
The main benefit of being tanned is seen as looking and feeling healthier. The main reason for using a sunbed is for a pre-holiday tan. Whilst the sun protection factor from a sunbed tan does not provide total protection, people having a base tan are less likely to over-expose themselves during the initial days of a holiday.
Sunbeds contains fluorescent tubes, which tan the skin by emitting Ultraviolet (UV) Rays, the same type of radiation that is found in natural sunlight. Two types of radiation reach the earth; UVA and UVB rays. About 95% of sunlight is made up of UVA rays, which causes skin ageing, and about 5% is UVB rays, which causes skin to burn. In Britain, there is no regulation of the makeup of UV radiation in sunbeds.
On average, 10 minutes of sunbed use has the same effect on the skin as 10 minutes of Mediterranean summer sun. Sunlight promotes the body’s production of Vitamin D, and can also be good for conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, rickets or jaundice. However, extensive exposure to sun can be dangerous, and tanning is the skin’s way of protecting itself from further UV damage.
For more information call us on 02078516624
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