From skin cancer to Jersey Shore, indoor tanning has gained a bad reputation over the years. What many people may not know, however, is that every day we do certain things to our skin that are categorized in the same danger zones as indoor tanning, such as using band-aids or even putting on foundation. The time has come to shed some light on the facts about indoor tanning that are mostly hidden from the general public.

Tanning both indoor and outdoor has undeniable negative effects such as wrinkles, dry skin, cataracts and other skin diseases. What some people may not know is that most of these are all preventable by tanning in moderation, and in a smart way. Tanning salons usually sell lotions that have certain ingredients in them that not only optimize your tan but help moisturize the skin and prevent wrinkles and early signs of aging. Most tanning salons are either required by law to ask their customers to wear protective eyewear, or voluntarily have these policies. Eyewear protects the eyes from harmful UV rays, which can cause cataracts, loss of night vision or other serious conditions. If customers opt to not use the eyewear, they are intentionally putting themselves at risk to develop very damaging eye problems. While it is true you can contract skin diseases from the use of indoor tanning beds, a properly maintained well-sanitized salon is going to lower that risk significantly.

Knowledge gained through experience has taught me that the science behind indoor tanning causing skin cancer is still disagreed upon by many doctors and scientists. It is not proven that there is any direct correlation between skin cancer and indoor tanning at all. According to Michael F. Holick, Professor of Dermatology, Medicine, Physiology, and Biophysics at Boston University Medical Center, exposure to sunlight or artificially produced UV light produced by indoor tanning beds can help ward off a host of debilitating and sometimes deadly diseases such as osteoporosis, hypertension, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, depression and even cancers such as colon, prostate, ovarian and breast. Indoor tanning has also been proven to help or cure acne, psoriasis, seasonal affective disorder, and eczema, along with being an excellent source of vitamin D. Michael F. Holick's studies also show that exposing people with high blood pressure to UVB rays in a tanning salon lowers their blood pressure readings as much as prescribed blood pressure medications. He also found that increasing vitamin D improves the heart's pumping ability and reduces cardiac strain.

According to Real Magazine, "the average beauty magazine today hauls in more than $1 million an issue in 'sun scare' advertisements". This by itself is a huge reason why nobody ever hears about the benefits from indoor tanning. Unfortunately, the bad press comes along with this industry. Snooki, J-WOWW, and Pauly D probably all know about that since they each have their own indoor tanning lotion line, but hopefully in the next few years, with more advances in technology, the outlook on indoor tanning will turn to a more positive note.