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06 September 2008

Answer to Question #1750 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Suntanning

The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:

Are you restricted from using tanning beds while on certain medications?

A wide variety of medications advise the user to stay away from direct sunlight. The reason for this is that some component of the medication can cause photosensitivity of the patient. This means that while taking this medication the patient may be susceptible to some type of injury from the ultraviolet (UV) component of the sunlight. Suntanning booths and similar devices are designed to replicate solar UV, therefore they present a comparable or greater risk than does natural sunlight. It is foreseeable that the limited exposure time in the tanning booth could yield a UV dose much higher than one would receive in several hours outdoors (depending on location in the world). The bottom line is to avoid tanning booths while taking any type of medication for which you are advised to avoid exposure to sunlight. Gary Zeman, ScD, CHP Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Answer posted on 13 March 2002. The information and material posted on this Web site is intended as general reference information only. Specific facts and circumstances may alter the concepts and applications of materials and information described herein. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon in the absence of such professional advice specific to whatever facts and circumstances are presented in any given situation. Answers are correct at the time they are posted on the Web site. Be advised that over time, some requirements could change, new data could be made available, or Internet links could change. For answers that have been posted for several months or longer, please check the current status of the posted information prior to using the responses for specific applications.