Tanning Guides

Tanning beds are a great way to get that tan no matter what mother nature is doing. Whether it’s the middle of a winter snow storm, raining cats and dogs, or the wind is howling with a tanning bed you can be sure to maintain your tan and look great. But how frequently should you use tanning lamps?

One of the most commonly asked questions is how often it’s safe to use tanning lamps and whether all beds are the same. It’s great to see tanners becoming more aware of the safety of tanning both naturally and in tanning beds. It’s about time we took an active role in our skin health.

With all the information provided on the television and on the internet you might be surprised to discover we aren’t nearly as educated about the safety of tanning beds as you might think. People are still unsure about how many sessions a week are safe and how long those sessions should be and with so many different lamps on the market it can get really confusing. Good news – you’re about to get your tanning bed lesson in just a few minutes of reading.

The most important thing to know is just as not all cars are created equal nor are all tanning bed lamps. Just as there are cars that are great for new drivers and cars that are meant for the race track, there are also beds that are designed for beginners and beds that are designed for pros. Choose the right bed for your tanning expertise and the level of tan you currently have.

When booking your appointment at the salon book the appropriate level of bed. If you’re unsure then visit the salon for a consultation with the attendant and they’ll get you set up with the correct lamps.

Now not only do different beds produced different levels of UV rays, even the same bed can produce different levels depending on the lamps. The effectiveness of the lamps depends on a variety of things including the number of hours on the bulb, maintenance, the oils used, and the length of the session.

Tanning lamps produce the highest UV rays when they are new. When they are half used up they put out only 50% of the tanning rays they did when they were new. It continues to decline from there on.

So if you are attending a salon that likes to cut costs one of the first places to do that is no changing the bulbs at the proper intervals. Another way to cut costs is use inferior bulbs which transmit lower levels of tanning rays. This means you aren’t getting what you paid for. Ask the salon about their lamp replacement policy.

You will also not get the full benefit of the tanning bed if the acrylic covers are not properly cleaned. Salons wipe the exterior down after each use, well at least the good salons do. But dust and debris builds under the cover and they should be completely stripped down once a week.

A close inspection of the bed and the cover will reveal if it has a collection of dust bunnies. This means the salon doesn’t follow that procedure. Dust filters out the tanning rays that you are paying to get so make sure the bed you are using can provide.

How long your tanning session is will depend on the bed, your skin type, and the lamps. The attendant should tell you how long your tanning session should be based on all the factors.

Normally you will visit 2 to 4 times a week, depending on the bed you are using. Some of the real high end beds require only need one session per week to maintain your tan.

Before you start your tanning regime visit the salon. Speak with the attendant in charge of the tanning area. Find out which bed is for you, how much time you will need to obtain the tan you want, and also take a tour of the salon and their beds to ensure it meets with your standards for cleanliness.

Now wasn’t that easy? Tanning lamps really aren’t the big mystery we think they are. Use common sense and play it safe.