I'm curious to get everyone's opinion on tanning.
No doubt, excessive tanning is terribly unhealthy and carcinogenic, whether done in sunlight or with a tanning bed. No argument there.
However, I basically get zero sunlight unless I use a tanning bed, which seems to be necessary in my case, since an utter lack of sunlight for a prolonged period seems causes all sorts of health problems.
For some time I've been tanning for <10 minutes 1-3 times per week in a low-intensity tanning bed -- enough to improve my complexion and my mood and get a certain minimum amount of UV but not nearly enough to get anything resembling a sunburn.
Can anyone quantify the differences between tanning and natural sunlight with respect to vitamin D production, long-term skin damage, and other longevity-related considerations?
Edited by resveratrol, 18 September 2007 - 10:29 PM.