Skin Care

9 Secrets Tanning Salons Don't Want You to Know

Indoor tanning can cost you your healthy skin and your life, so how are these salons staying in business? Find out

by Anna Jimenez

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If you've ever set foot in a tanning salon, you've heard the hard sell. They push "tan accelerators" costing up to $90 a pop, a package of tans so your "glow doesn't go," and the promise that tanning beds are a "smarter" choice than baking out at the beach.

Skip to see the 9 secrets tanning salons don't want you to know now.

And apparently, you don't have to be a dummy to be sold. Approximately 7.8 million adult women and 1.9 million adult men in the United States tan indoors, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. That's a lot of willing customers allowing a business to knowingly, and quite happily, damage their skin.

So what is this, an alternate universe? What happened to the idea that the beauty industry was one that promoted youth and health? Spending time in a tanning bed practically guarantees you'll eventually deal with skin problems like photo damage, brown spots, fine lines, and wrinkles. Oh and hey, perhaps you've heard about this thing called melanoma, another not-so-lovely side effect of your tanning habit. Yeah, it's a deadly skin cancer that can spread throughout your entire body and kill you. Dead.

So why do Americans continue to subject themselves to the wrath of tanning beds and what are the secrets these tanning salons are keeping from us in order to keep business booming? Read on.

Image via Pinterest

SEE NEXT PAGE: Tanning Indoors Is More Dangerous Than Tanning Outdoors

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Older comments

UGH! I hate reading articles like this. I love being tan and love laying in that tanning bed for 15 minutes of relaxing me time. But I know that it is sucha bad thing to do! Why? Why are all the good things we love so bad for us?!?!

by PrincessKim81 Friday, March 22, 2013 at 10:51AM Report as inappropriate

75% of Americans have a vitamin D deficiency because of stupid articles like this! A lack of vitamin D, sunburns, spray tans and sunscreen all cause cancer. People really need to start thinking for themselves!

by Kelly_K Thursday, March 21, 2013 at 05:07PM Report as inappropriate

Very interesting to read

by Candice11 Sunday, March 17, 2013 at 02:31AM Report as inappropriate

good to know

by butterfly11 Friday, March 15, 2013 at 05:09PM Report as inappropriate

super good things to know here. next time will definitely just go for the spray tan

by treehugger1997 Friday, March 1, 2013 at 02:41PM Report as inappropriate

Well I'm glad I don't tan in any way now

by thequietnoise Sunday, January 20, 2013 at 12:20PM Report as inappropriate

Ha!!!! Most of this information is CRAP and the last slide about spray tanning proves it!! Spray tanning involves a compound called DHA which is a derivitave from sugar cane. It causes an oxidization affect with the top layer of dead skin. It does not in ANY way stimulate the production of melanin!! Research both sides before you throw your opinion in the ring! Don't be fooled into believing that Cancer societies and Dermatologists aren't being funded BIG TIME by sunscreen manufacturers! But go ahead, drive the fear while telling people it's safe to slather on chemical laden sunscreens! Double standard? I think so!

by jellybean__111 Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at 04:40PM Report as inappropriate

Good info

by EricaC123 Friday, December 28, 2012 at 05:06PM Report as inappropriate

girl get out of that tanning bed

by LittleBunny Friday, December 21, 2012 at 11:24AM Report as inappropriate

Wow, what a fun read! I'm going to make my friends read this!

by Snowwhitessecret Wednesday, December 19, 2012 at 12:47PM Report as inappropriate