By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, Dec. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Studies have shown that tanning beds are tied to a higher long-term risk for skin cancer, but new research finds that about 3,200 Americans wind up in ERs every year with serious burns or from passing out after an indoor tanning session.
People suffer first- and second-degree burns from tanning too long, said lead researcher Gery Guy Jr., from the division of cancer prevention and control at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Others develop eye injuries, including redness and burning, from exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, he noted.
"In terms of passing out, people reported falling down after stepping out of a tanning bed," Guy said. Although the reason isn't clear, fainting could be caused by heat exhaustion, he said.
The good news is that these injuries decreased between 2003 and 2012. The bad news is rules governing indoor tanning are not followed well, Guy said.
"There were several cases where individuals reported falling asleep in the tanning bed, resulting in overexposure and burns," Guy noted. "That's interesting because there are regulations that indoor tanning beds have timers, so this may mean that timers weren't working or people are overriding the timers so they can stay in longer."
One expert said such practices are unacceptable.
"It is not acceptable to hold yourself as providing a safe treatment with a device that emits UV radiation when your machines' safety timers are either disabled or bypassed," said Dr. Jeffrey Salomon, an assistant clinical professor of plastic surgery at Yale University School of Medicine.
Salomon explained that the longer you're exposed to ultraviolet radiation, the greater the risk of burns of the skin. Also, the higher the energy level from the device, the less time it takes to burn the skin. In addition, people with fair complexions burn faster than people with dark complexions, he said.
"The providers of skin tanning must individualize treatment for each client based on skin type, power level and duration," Salomon said. "If they can't and won't do that, then they should not be allowed to offer the service whatsoever."
source : Indoor Tanning Tied to Burns, Fainting, Eye Injuries: Study
