Photoaging under recreational sunbeds

Background: Artificial sources of restricted light wavelength, particularly tanning beds, are progressively gaining importance in photoaging. Objective: To assess the kinetics and the long-term evolution of skin pigmentation and tensile functions in sunbed worshippers over a period of 8 years. Methods: Photoaging was explored in women who were both sunshine and sunbed worshippers. A series of 65 phototype III women aged 31-46 years completed a 100-month survey. Quarterly assessments were performed on the forearms to measure (a) the skin color individual typology angle (ITA1), (b) the extent in mottled subclinical melanoderma (MSM) using the ultraviolet light-enhanced visualization method and (c) the rheological properties of skin. Results: A progressive increase in both skin extensibility and hysteresis was observed, contrasting with a decrease in biologic elasticity. These rheological changes were correlated with the ITA1 changes, but not with the MSM extent. The kinetics of evolution of each test variable were distinct over time. Discussion: This work is the first attempt at evaluating the kinetics of changes in physical parameters during a long period of frequent exposures to tanning sunbeds and sunshine for lifestyle purposes. The alterations were quite important in the color, MSM and rheological functions of the skin.