The UV irradiation device consists of a transparent carrier (substrate) having over the entire surface a coating of conventional fluorescent material (luminescent material) which absorbs the short-wave UV radiation and emits a long-wave, biologically interesting UV radiation. The fluorescent material is excited with a separate gas-discharge source which is arranged at a predetermined distance from the carrier and has a clear, uncoated glass bulb. The carrier is preferably designed as resting surface of a whole body tanning device (solarium).
