Why Tanning Won’t Cure Your Winter Blues

• ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
• Light boxes are used to treat Seasonal Affective Disorder.
• Light therapy uses a different type of light then that in a tanning bed.
• Tanning bulbs hurt skin and eyes.
• Tanning does not work to cure S.A.D.

My friend told me he beats the winter blues by heading to a tanning bed to get his sun. My friend was not diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder, but like most people the short winter days bum him out.

Seasonal Affective Disorder is the technical term for the sadness some people experience in relationship to the changing of the seasons. One of the most effective ways to treat S.A.D. is with light therapy.

Tanning beds cost $10 a pop, and at home light therapy boxes usually start around $200.  Cancer, obviously, was not on his mind, but I was curious to find out if there as some merit to my friends claim. Turns out there is not. According to an article by Reuters Health  ”real light therapy works through the eyes, not the skin, and uses a completely different type of light.” Not only do tanning beds dramatically increase your risk for skin cancer, but the bright lights can also ruin your eyes.

My friend probably did feel better after he tanned, because he thought he looked good. Vanity over sanity, but cancer does not look good on anyone.

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