While the trend for sporting a golden suntan shows no sign of abating, neither does the popularity of using tanning beds. There has been a great deal of negative press publicity regarding the safety concerns of tanning beds. However, this is often due to their misuse by people who are poorly informed regarding protecting themselves.



While the trend for sporting a golden suntan shows no sign of abating, neither does the popularity of using tanning beds. There has been a great deal of negative press publicity regarding the safety concerns of tanning beds. However, this is often due to their misuse by people who are poorly informed regarding protecting themselves.

Tanning beds simulate the sun by emitting controlled amounts of both UVA and UVB rays. Although they are designed to minimize burning and maximize tanning, without proper care they are capable causing both short term and long term damage to your skin. Before you embark on a tanning bed session, make sure you’re fully aware of how best you can protect yourself in order to try and minimize damaging your skin.

Who can use a Tanning Bed

Tanning beds aren’t suitable for everyone and anyone who fits into any of the following categories should never consider going on them at all.

1. Teenagers and children, especially those under the age of 16 should not use a tanning bed. Studies have shown that those exposed to UV radiation from indoor tanning beds before the age of 35 have a 75 percent increase of contracting melanoma;

2. Anyone with fair or red hair, lots of freckles or moles and blue or grey eyes. These skin types have an increased risk of burning;

3. Anyone with a history of skin cancer in their family;

4. If you are taking any medication or drugs you should check with your doctor or a pharmacist. This is because some drugs can make skin more sensitive to UV light;

5. If you are pregnant, again, check with your doctor before using a tanning bed.

How to use Tanning Beds Safely

If you don’t fall into any of the categories listed above, always make sure you adhere to the following guidelines for safe tanning when using a tanning bed.

1. Before using a tanning bed, make sure it has been thoroughly cleaned first. A build up of sweat, skin and creams on the surface of the bed will lead to the development of bacteria which is then passed on to you;

2. Steer clear of unmanned tanning beds and stick to those run by well trained staff and who offer good customer care with regards to health and safety. There have been numerous cases of people suffering extensive burns when using unmanned booths, believing they can stay in longer than the recommended time and achieve a greater tan;

3. Always use eye goggles or eye protection.  Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light is damaging to the eyes, making growths more likely. Many tanning beds provide disposable cups which fit snugly over the lids, virtually eliminating chances of the ‘panda eye’ effect;

4. Carefully note any advice given to you by staff at the salon;

5. Never stay on a tanning bed longer than the recommend time limit. And if you have a tanning bed at home, it can be tempting to stay on for longer. However, it won’t deepen your tan and will be more likely to lead to burning and long term skin damage;

6. Don’t use a tanning bed any more than two to three sessions a week with at least 24 hours between sessions. For those with blond to brown hair and green or grey eyes, you should wait at least 48 hours between sessions.

While we all need a small amount of exposure to sunlight each day, overdoing it, either on a tanning bed or in the sun, will only increase your likelihood of suffering from long term skin damage. This could be in the form of premature aging or worse, skin cancer. And although a tan can make us feel good, remember, any tan is a sign of skin damage. So whenever you’re using a tanning bed, always follow the safety guidelines and never stay on for longer than the recommended time. This is the best way you can protect yourself while using a tanning bed.