If you mess with the sun you will get burned. But what most people fail to realize is that the same can be said for tanning beds. Tanning bed burns can - and do - happen. And while most of us understand the necessity of protecting ourselves against the harmful effects of the natural sun, we have yet to fully grasp the importance of protecting ourselves from the effects of tanning beds.

To understand tanning bed burns you must first understand how tanning beds work. When we expose ourselves to natural sunlight, we expose ourselves to a combination of ultraviolet rays that affect the pigmentation of our skin and cause it to tan - or burn. UVA rays - the longer of the two ultraviolet rays - reach into the deep layers of our skin. UVB rays - the more dangerous of the two - are shorter and therefore reach only to the top layer of our skin. Tanning beds act as an alternative to the sun, exposing the skin to a combination of UVA and UVB rays. However, in the case of tanning beds, UVB rays are actually increased to speed the tanning process. The result can be tanning bed burns.

Overexposure to these UV rays can result in the advanced aging of skin as shown by wrinkles and age spots. Such overexposure can also result in eventual skin cancers such as melanoma. Additionally, exposure to the sun - and similarly, to tanning beds, can result in burned skin. When your skin is severely sunburned, it is forever damaged, increasing the likelihood of skin cancer and early aging. Tanning bed burns - just like the burns you receive via natural sunlight - are dangerous and the effects can be long reaching.

In order to avoid tanning bed burns, use your head. If you are fair skinned or have a tendency to burn in the sun, then, without question, avoid tanning beds. Even if you have a darker pigmentation and do not have a tendency to burn, you should still take precautions against tanning bed burns. Be sure to use plenty of protective lotion designed for your skin type and minimize both your frequency of use and amount of exposure time.

Using common sense and tanning responsibly - or not at all - will protect you from tanning bed burns and ensure a lifetime of healthy skin.