What started out as a medical research resulted to an industry. The concept of a tanning bed first originated from Germany when a certain company first reconsidered the use of a device to cure rickets and to help patients with poor bone density. This initial research proved to be more important than what was first thought. Other institutions followed suit in the later years, attesting to the fact that the project really hit something big.

The 1970s brought forth the emergence of the first tanning lamps intended for scientific studies. German Wolff, a German scientist first thought of using artificial indoor tanning UV light to determine the benefits of tanning for athletes. Interestingly enough, tanning is becoming a powerful norm among Americans. When he saw the potentials of producing artificial tanning machines, he used his researches and created the first indoor tanning beds. Thus the birth of a new industry.

Indoor tanning beds were initially introduced in Germany and Europe followed by producing the first large-scale production of tanning beds. Up to date, indoor tanning is a well-regulated professional industry in the region.

In those times, tanning beds in the United Sates were not as advanced as those made in Europe and were as well equipped. The earliest tanning beds in America have poor regulation on the emission of UVB rays and often cause skin disorders and severe sunburns. This issue caused large numbers of campaigns against the used of such tanning beds in the medical community.

The tanning industry reacted positively. Researches were made and a new lines of tanning beds were produced- those that use UBA rays instead of the harmful UVB. UVA rays are less harmful and may cause lesser sunburns than that of the UVB. A reason that probably pushed tanning beds manufacturers to recreate their standard models.

These 30 years of research fashioned the modern tanning beds that most tanners enjoy now. With careful use, tanning may be as healthy as most tanners would prefer it to be.

Though many advances were created since the beginning of the industry, modernity still cannot negate the fact that there are no ways to avoid the harm brought by tanning. Though most people realize that tanning is the manifestation of a certain degree of damage to the skin, they still welcome the "healthy looking skin" fashion.

It is not to discourage people from tanning at all. But if scientifically viewed, tanning (either indoors or outdoors) is really a great health concern. There are no significant differences between the traditional tanning and tanning beds. Both release almost the same amounts of UV rays that are instrumental to creating skin cancers. And the process of tanning the skin is alike. Both have alike side effects as well. The good thing though is that tanning beds are regulated. Many people associate intensity with harm. They miss out the point that the duration of exposure to tanning rays is also an essential part of the issue. Tanning beds are specially engineered to provide control for the emission of the UV rays. Each session has controlled sessions to minimize the degree of burn and of tanning.

The majority of tanners are faced with both of these issues. Tanning is healthy and so is the minimized exposure to sunlight. So the choice is actually something that needs deep insight.