{"id":2271,"date":"2025-08-19T10:37:47","date_gmt":"2025-08-19T10:37:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/?p=2271"},"modified":"2025-08-21T14:59:54","modified_gmt":"2025-08-21T14:59:54","slug":"those-red-light-tanning-beds-yeah-theyre-a-scam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/19\/those-red-light-tanning-beds-yeah-theyre-a-scam\/","title":{"rendered":"Those Red Light Tanning Beds? Yeah, They\u2019re A Scam"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Welcome to Sun Blocked<\/a>, Refinery29\u2019s global call to action to wake up to the serious dangers of tanning. No lectures or shaming, we promise. Instead, our goal is to arm you with the facts you need to protect your skin to the best of your ability, because there\u2019s no such thing as safe sun.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThey are much safer as the red light has the opposite effect of [UV], it protects your skin.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

I wince as I read this. I\u2019m exchanging emails with 19-year-old Crisiant, who uses a red light tanning bed<\/a> roughly every six weeks. Last year, she discovered that a tanning salon in her area had two of these beds, and she assumed they would be better for her skin.<\/p>\n

These machines\u201a also known as collagen-boosting tanning beds, combine ultraviolet (UV) light \u2014 which tans the skin \u2014 with tubes that emit red light. Even if you\u2019ve never stepped inside one, you\u2019ve probably seen red light before. From LED face masks<\/a> to full-body treatments that immerse the skin in red light, these devices have become skincare staples, promising to boost collagen, reduce acne, and heal skin.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Collagen [tanning beds] make no logical sense at all. [Beds] that deliver UV radiation are harmful and cause skin cancers, full stop. Cloaking them as something good for your skin health is totally disingenuous. <\/p>\n

Dr. Clare Kiely, consultant dermatologist<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n

Later, on the phone, it sounds like Crisiant is well aware of the dangers of regular tanning beds. She first tried one aged 18, but learning more about the risks put her off: \u201cIf you [use] one now and then, I didn\u2019t think it\u2019d be too bad, but I didn\u2019t want to do it consistently because I knew how dangerous they were,\u201d she tells me.<\/p>\n

To Crisiant, red light tanning beds felt different \u2014 a little safer: \u201cIt still gives you a tan while doing your skin good,\u201d she says. \u201cI went on it once and noticed [a difference] within the same day. I had a really bad breakout on my face, and it sort of soothed and cleared my skin. It was really strange as [tanning beds] have never done that for me before.\u201d It also made her feel more confident.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not hard to see why Crisiant thinks these machines are a safer, even beneficial alternative to regular tanning beds \u2014\u00a0and she\u2019s not the only one. But it highlights worrying misconceptions around red light tanning beds and their damage. Head to TikTok or Instagram, and you\u2019ll find countless videos posted by people<\/a> who are convinced these beds can be used safely and that the risk of burning is lower.<\/p>\n

But that\u2019s not true. Combining red light with UV in a tanning bed counteracts any of the potential benefits. Consultant dermatologist Dr. Clare Kiely<\/a>, cofounder of The Skin Diary<\/a>, puts it plainly: \u201cCollagen [tanning beds] make no logical sense at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Is red light safe for our skin?\u00a0<\/h2>\n

It is important to point out the differences between a red light-only bed and a tanning bed that emits both UV and red light. \u201cRed light therapy without UV is a very different proposition,\u201d confirms consultant dermatologist Dr. Derrick Phillips<\/a>. \u201cIt is generally considered safe and may help with things like inflammation, wound healing<\/a> and improving overall skin tone. However, the results do tend to be subtle, and I always remind patients that it\u2019s not a quick fix.\u201d Dr. Beibei Du-Harpur<\/a>, scientific engagement lead at The Skin Diary, agrees: \u201cMore clinical evidence is needed to confirm the effectiveness [of red light] as a treatment for the skin, but there have been promising small studies<\/a> from a skin aging perspective.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The bottom line? On its own, red light is low-risk. But its popularity in skincare has made some see red light tanning beds as a good thing.<\/p>\n

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Not only does UV increase your risk of skin cancer, it breaks down collagen \u2014 the very thing red light is supposed to help boost \u2014\u00a0and speeds up the skin\u2019s aging process. In other words, any benefits of red light are immediately cancelled out by the UV.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n

Are red light tanning beds \u2018safer\u2019 to use than regular tanning beds?\u00a0<\/h2>\n

The World Health Organisation has classed UV-emitting tanning devices as carcinogenic<\/a> to humans since 2009. It doesn\u2019t matter if UV comes from a tanning bed that also emits red light; it still causes damage to our DNA. Not only does UV increase your risk of skin cancer<\/a>, it breaks down collagen \u2014 the very thing red light is supposed to help boost \u2014\u00a0and speeds up the skin\u2019s aging process. In other words, any benefits of red light are immediately cancelled out by the UV.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Dr. Kiely says that those who market machines combining UV with collagen-boosting red lights can\u2019t have a good understanding of how light affects our skin. Why? It just doesn\u2019t make sense: \u201c[Tanning beds] that deliver UV radiation are harmful and cause skin cancers, full stop,\u201d she says. \u201cCloaking them as something good for your skin health is totally disingenuous.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Dr. Phillips agrees and sees no evidence that combining red light with UV neutralizes the harm. \u201cIf anything, it gives a misleading impression of safety,\u201d he says. \u201cThese are still [tanning beds] emitting UV radiation, and they carry all the same risks as traditional tanning beds. From a dermatological perspective, they\u2019re just as concerning.\u201d<\/p>\n

Why do people still use tanning beds despite the dangers?\u00a0<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s difficult to say how many of these red light and UV machines exist, but IBISWorld<\/a>, a global industry research platform, reports that there were more than 28,000 tanning salons in the United States in 2024. A quick Google reveals that plenty offer combined UV-red light beds.<\/p>\n

The reasons why people use<\/a> beds like these are complex. Bronzed skin remains a beauty ideal<\/a>, and among younger people, tanning beds are still seen as trendy. Crisiant hints that this is partly why she first tried one: \u201cYou see all the girls getting these [tanning beds] and a nice tan from it,\u201d she says. \u201cI feel like they are that phase that doesn\u2019t end for a lot of people.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Some credit tanning beds for boosting their mood. Others believe they help them get enough vitamin D \u2014 a proven myth<\/a>. Another misconception is that they can help improve skin conditions like acne or eczema<\/a>, but prolonged use of tanning beds can actually worsen these conditions<\/a> and weaken the skin over time, making it more susceptible to infection.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Then there\u2019s the theory that using tanning beds occasionally or for short bursts makes it \u201csafer\u201d \u2014 something I thought was true as a teenager. Because sun damage isn\u2019t always visible right away, it\u2019s easy to underestimate the harm. Even those who understand their risks struggle to stop using them, with some describing themselves as feeling \u201caddicted\u201d<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

If tanning beds are so dangerous, why aren\u2019t they banned?\u00a0<\/h2>\n

While tanning beds remain so widely available, often without clearly displayed warnings, there is always a risk that people may assume that they are somewhat safe,\u00a0otherwise they\u2019d be banned. Refinery29\u2019s stance is clear: tanning beds should be banned<\/a>, as they are in Iran, Brazil, and Australia. Just one session before age 35 more than doubles your lifetime risk<\/a> of melanoma, a skin cancer that can spread to other parts of the body. Red light doesn\u2019t change that.\u00a0<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why many experts support a tanning bed ban and agree that the growing trend for red light beds is another reason it\u2019s needed: \u201cThe messaging of these collagen-boosting [tanning beds] confuses those who may not understand the detrimental effects that [tanning beds] have on our skin,\u201d says Dr. Du-Harpur. She adds this is particularly dangerous given beauty standards around having a \u201chealthy\u201d tan \u2014 a phrase that doesn\u2019t make any sense when a tan is our skin\u2019s damage response to UV. Marketing red light tanning beds as collagen-boosting, she adds, \u201cwill encourage people to risk their health in the name of beauty and present an illusion that it may be safer or different to a conventional UV-focused [tanning bed].\u201d She stresses, \u201cThey aren\u2019t safe \u2014 with or without red light therapy.\u201d<\/p>\n

When I ask Crisiant if anything might put her off using a red light tanning bed, she says it\u2019s like she has \u201ca devil and an angel on each shoulder.\u201d She might change her mind one day, but she can\u2019t say she\u2019ll stop for now. Crisiant isn\u2019t against a tanning bed ban, though: \u201cEven though I use them, if they were [banned] I don\u2019t think I\u2019d be massively annoyed because I know that the government would be doing it for our benefit,\u201d she says.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Little has changed since Refinery29 reported on what it would take for tanning beds to be banned entirely<\/a> last May. Sadly, only a handful of US states<\/a> have a blanket ban. But if we\u2019re serious about tackling rising skin cancer rates<\/a>, intervention is needed. At the very least, more regulation around any kind of tanning bed use, or better yet, a total ban.<\/p>\n

This story was originally published on Refinery29 UK.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Let\u2019s Talk About Love Island \u2014 & Those Tans<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Welcome to Sun Blocked, Refinery29\u2019s global call to action to wake up to the serious dangers of tanning. No lectures or shaming, we promise. Instead, our goal is to arm you with the facts you need to protect your skin to the best of your ability, because there\u2019s no such thing as safe sun. \u201cThey…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2273,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[15],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2271"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2271"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2271\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2274,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2271\/revisions\/2274"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2273"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2271"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2271"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2271"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}