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How harmful is using a UVB-emitting tanning booth for 2 minutes, 3 times per week to maintain healthy vitamin D levels?

Asked by sunrunner (120points) November 3rd, 2010

Recently diagnosed with a very low vitamin D level, which I know is being linked to a number disorders as of late: viz., depression, heart disease, impotence, insomnia, cancer, and multiple sclerosis. I also know, just from experience, that I’m much happier, more relaxed, and can fall asleep easier in the summer, when I am synthesizing vitamin D through exposure to sunlight. So, I read a lot of studies, papers, and books on the subject, and apparently indoor tanning, if done using a UVB-emitting bed and conducted in 2-minute sessions, 3 times per week, is believed by several doctors to be a good alternative to actual sun exposure during the winter months for denizens of northern-latitude cities, and more effective in maintaining healthy vitamin D levels than supplementation through diet (e.g., fish) or daily vitamin D-3 pills. One researcher calculated that 2 minutes in a tanning bed is the equivalent of 20 minutes in the sun, and the 12–15 minutes tanning salons recommend is the equivalent of 2 to 2.5 hours in the sun, which is perhaps why so many tanning bed users have gotten melanoma.

I’m not interested in tanning to achieve a tan, rather only to maintain vitamin D levels during the winter months. I’m wondering if anyone ever used tanning beds in such a brief duration to do this, as well as how dangerous or wrinkle-inducing this could be. Thanks.

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