Vitamin D and Indoor Tanning
Dr. Holick, Vitamin D
Exposure to UVB promotes the production of vitamin
D; in Micheal Holick's new book,
"The UV Advantage",
he promotes the idea of moderate UVB exposure.
That is, enough UVB exposure to achieve our
recommended daily dose of vitamin D. This exposure
may come from natural sunlight or from indoor
tanning beds at an
indoor tanning salon.
While Micheal Holick isn't an advocate for
indoor tanning,
he does admit sunbeds can provide a viable
alternative to natural sunlight. However, because
it's the UVB exposure that's required to promote
vitamin D production, high pressure (UVA only)
beds will not work. Instead low-pressure beds
which use bronzing
tanning bed bulbs
are required. These bulbs best mimic natural
sunlight, with a UVA to UVB ratio in the range of
97-94% UVA to 3-6% UVB.
The benefit to
indoor tanning
is it provides a controlled and private
environment, the customer can visit at any time of
the day, and a speedy 10 to 25 minute visit is all
that's needed.
Tanning salons
are particularly useful for receiving moderate UVB
exposure during the winter months, when it's more
difficult to receive such exposure from sunlight.