How does a tanning bed affect the skin and why is it worth supplementing collagen?

12. 03. 2025

Do you long for tanned skin? A tanning bed, whether conventional or home tanning, is the solution, but did you know that it also carries risks? This method of tanning exposes your skin to an intense dose of UV rays that can accelerate skin ageing, impair skin hydration and regeneration. Discover how UV rays affect the skin and why your beauty kit shouldn't be lacking collagen. 

• Solarium: How UV rays affect the skin ☀️
• 👩‍⚕️ Is tanning healthy?
• Types of tanning beds
• Horizontal, so-called reclining tanning beds
• Vertical, so-called standing solarium
• Classical solarium
• Collagen solarium
• Home solarium
• Facial solarium
• Solarium during pregnancy 🤰
• How often to go to the solarium?
• Skin phototypes
• Collagen: the key to firm, unified and healthy skin
• 🥤 How to supplement collagen?
• Conclusion

Solarium: How UV rays affect the skin ☀️

A solarium is a device that uses tubes (fluorescent tubes) to produce UVA and UVB radiation, which are two types of ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

• UVA radiation: penetrates deeper into the skin and contributes to a quick tan, but also causes oxidative stress, DNA damage to cells and increases the risk of skin cancer
• UVB radiation: promotes a slower tanning process, but can cause redness or skin irritation if overexposed.

Tanning beds work in a similar way to the sun ☀️ - UV rays stimulate the production of melanin, the pigment responsible for the tanned appearance of the skin.

Melanin is a pigment produced by melanocytes in the skin. Its production is a multifaceted process regulated by UVB radiation through various genetic, biochemical and hormonal pathways.

The tan caused by UVA radiation is not as protective as that caused by UVB radiation. In fact, UVA rays only darken the existing melanin in the skin, while UVB rays stimulate the production of new melanin, which provides better protection against DNA damage to cells.

👩‍⚕️ Is tanning healthy?

Some researchers suggest using a tanning bed or tanning equipment as a source of vitamin D. While tanning beds can increase vitamin D levels, they also pose a risk of cancer due to high UV exposure.

It is advisable to look for alternative sources of vitamin D, such as diet and supplements, especially during periods when we lack sunlight.

Excessive UV exposure accelerates skin ageing, reduces skin elasticity and can cause DNA damage to cells. There are also serious health risks, including atrophy, pigmentary changes, wrinkles and skin cancer, especially melanoma.

One of the highest risk factors for skin melanoma is fair skin (phototype I-II) due to lower melanin content, which provides less protection from UV radiation.

 

It is essential to follow the rules of safe sunbathing and support skin regeneration with appropriate skin care.

Types of solariums

The intensity of the radiation, the length and the comfort of the tanning depends on the type of solarium.

Solariums are divided according to the method of sunbathing.

Horizontal, so-called reclining solarium

• The most common type of solarium, where you lie down on a special ergonomic surface.
• The tubes are positioned above and below the body so that the skin is evenly tanned.
• Suitable for relaxation - you can relax while sunbathing.
• They are often equipped with ventilation, cooling and music for a more comfortable experience.

Vertical, so-called standing solarium

• When you're sunbathing, you're standing up.
• No direct contact with the surface of the solarium.
• The tubes may have a higher output - tanning is faster than in a horizontal solarium, but it depends on the output and condition of the tubes.

Another division of sunbeds is according to technology.

Classic solarium

• Most commonly used in solar studies.
• Standard UV tube with a combination of UVA and UVB.
• While it allows for a quick tan, if used frequently it can damage the collagen fibres in the skin and accelerate skin ageing.

Collagen solarium

• It combines UV light with red light to stimulate collagen production.
• Thanks to collagen, it can help slow down skin aging and improve skin elasticity.
• It is more gentle on the skin than the classic tanning bed.

Home solarium

• Smaller devices for home use.
• They may have a lower intensity of radiation - tanning may take longer.
• Popular options include facial tanning beds, which only tan the face and décolleté.

Facial solarium

• Suitable for home use.
• It focuses only on the face and décolleté.
• It is important to wear protective goggles - UV rays can damage your eyes.

 

Solarium in pregnancy 🤰

❌ Doctors generally recommend that pregnant women avoid tanning beds ❌. Excessive heating of the body can affect circulation and cause overheating, which is not ideal for fetal development.

If you are pregnant, choose self-tanners instead.

How often to go to the solarium?

In order to answer the question of how often to go to the sunbed, you need to know your skin phototype. The skin phototype is determined by a personal interview about your tanning and tanning experiences, and you can also take a test online.

The general advice we can give you is "less is sometimes more". If you want to avoid premature skin ageing and UV overload, don't try to overdo it.

It is important to give your skin enough time to regenerate between visits.

Skin phototypes

Skin phototypes are classifications based on how the skin reacts to sunlight, primarily focusing on the tendency to burn and the ability to tan. The most widely used system is the Fitzpatrick classification, which divides the skin into six phototypes (I to VI) based on these responses.

Fitzpatrick skin phototypes:

• Type I: Very fair skin - always tanned, never tanned.
• Type II: Fair skin - easily burned, minimal tanning.
• Type III: Medium-light skin - slightly tanned, evenly tanned.
• Type IV: Olive skin - minimal sunburn, always tans well.
• Type V: Brown skin - rarely burns, tans very easily.
• Type VI: Dark brown or black leather - never burns, richly pigmented.

The Fitzpatrick classification remains the standard for categorizing skin phototypes, but it has limitations, especially in its subjectivity and representation of darker skin tones. Genetic factors and melanin production are of major importance in defining phototypes.

Factors influencing phototypes:

• Genetic factors: the ratio of eumelanin to pheomelanin, influenced by the MC1R polymorphism, plays an important role in determining the phototype. This ratio influences pigmentation and skin response to UV exposure.
• Melanin production: The synthesis of melanin in melanocytes and its transfer to keratinocytes regulates skin colour and protects against UV damage. Different wavelengths of light can stimulate melanin production differently in different phototypes.

Other systems, such as the Roberts Skin Type Classification, take into account other factors such as the risk of hyperpigmentation and scarring to provide a more comprehensive assessment.

 

Collagen: the key to firm, hydrated and unified skin

You may have heard that collagen is a miracle for a youthful appearance. It's a vital component of the skin, making up to 75% of its weight and ensuring the skin's firmness, elasticity and vitality.

Regular sunbathing (not only) in the tanning bed accelerates the loss of collagen, so the skin loses its firmness, hydration and more wrinkles and pigment spots appear.

The effect of collagen on the skin during tanning:

• Skin hydration 💧: Helps restore lost moisture. Studies show that women who took collagen peptides for eight weeks experienced up to 28% higher levels of skin hydration.
• Firming the skin 💪: improves skin elasticity, reduces skin laxity and slows down the formation of wrinkles. Scientific research confirms that within ten weeks of taking collagen supplements, the density of collagen in the skin can increase by up to 8%.
• Promoting cell regeneration 🔄: the skin regenerates faster. A 2020 study reported that a four-week daily intake of oral collagen hydrolysate significantly improved skin elasticity, especially in sun-exposed areas. This improvement persisted after the supplement was discontinued, suggesting a potential benefit for skin recovery after sun exposure.
• Contributes to the reduction of pigment spots and helps maintain a unified skin tone ✨.

 

🥤 How to supplement collagen?

Collagen supplements are the most effective way to support the skin from within.

Try Hemnia collagen drink with hyaluronic acid in a refreshing lemon and mint flavour 🍋 with 3,000 mg of bovine collagen peptides, vitamin C (acerola) and natural fibre (chicory inulin rich in prebiotic cultures). Or reach for the raspberry flavour 🍇 , which contains 6,000 mg of bovine peptides.

In addition, hyaluronic acid contributes to skin hydration and vitamin C helps protect the skin from UV damage.

The collagen drink is quick and easy to prepare! Just pour the contents of the bag into a glass, add 200 to 300 ml of water and stir thoroughly.

Want to make your preparation even easier? With the Hemnia shaker, your drink will be ready in seconds. Plus, you can take it and the bag with you anywhere and replenish your collagen at any time of the day 🥤!

💡 Don't overlook the cost-effective 3+1 Collagen with Hyaluronic Acid Package for free.

Conclusion

Solarium is one of the ways to get tanned skin. It produces UVA and UVB radiation through tubes.

UVA radiation penetrates deeper into the skin and causes immediate darkening of existing melanin, but it also causes oxidative stress, damages the DNA of cells and increases the risk of skin cancer. UVB radiation stimulates the production of new melanin in melanocytes. The tan develops more slowly, but is longer lasting and provides greater protection against UV rays.

Overexposure to UV radiation accelerates skin ageing, reduces elasticity and can damage the DNA of cells, increasing the risk not only of pigment spots and wrinkles, but also of skin cancer.

UV rays also accelerate the breakdown of collagen, which affects skin renewal and appearance. To keep your skin supple, hydrated and radiant ✨ be sure to supplement with collagen to promote hydration, firmness, regeneration and reduction of wrinkles and pigment spots.

  

Author: Patricie Mikolášová

 

Foto: AI

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