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If you are thinking about trying a tanning bed for the first time, you probably have lots of questions: Are they safe? What about if you’re pregnant? How do they work? Are they clean?
Find answers to all of these questions and more below!
10 Tanning Bed Questions
- How do tanning beds work?
- Are tanning beds safe?
- Are tanning beds safer than sun tanning or spray tanning?
- Can you use a tanning bed while pregnant?
- Can you tan in a tanning bed nude?
- Should I shower before or after using a tanning bed?
- Are tanning beds sanitary?
- Should I wear tanning goggles in tanning beds?
- Should I wear sunscreen in tanning beds?
- How much does it cost to use a tanning bed?
- How do tanning beds work?
- Tanning beds utilize a bunch of UV bulbs to artificially produce UV rays, mainly UVA rays. The UVA rays comprise of 95% of the UV rays used in a tanning bed and are the rays that penetrate the skin to help produce more melanin, or the skin pigment that gives you color! UVB rays are the rays that can burn the surface of your skin, so they are not exactly what you want in a tanning bed.For a tanning bed, you rub on a good tanning bed lotion and typically lay in the tanning bed for no longer than 20 minutes, possibly much less time depending on your skin type.
[Back to Top] - Are tanning beds safe?
- No tanning method involving UV rays is considered safe. Increased exposure to UV rays is associated with skin cancer, no matter if the UV rays come from the sun or a tanning bed. It is recommended that your exposure to UV rays is limited, and that you are adequately protected when exposed.People still use tanning beds, of course, and are still alive and well! Moderation is key, and ensuring you are following tanning bed protocol will help keep tanning as safe as possible.
[Back to Top] - Are tanning beds safer than sun tanning or spray tanning?
- No. No amount of unnecessary UV ray exposure is considered safe. It is important that you get some exposure from the sun each day for vitamin D purposes, but just 20 minutes exposure to your face and arms is all you really need to fight deficiency. The light produced by a tanning bed is not the same as the of the sun; you need UVB rays which the tanning bed will not really produce.
[Back to Top] - Can you use a tanning bed while pregnant?
- You can, but this does not mean you’ll be allowed to tan anywhere while pregnant. Expect to be turned away because some salons will have policies against allowing women to tan when they are pregnant.The biggest risk found to be associated with using a tanning bed while pregnant is the risk of overheating. getting too hot while you are pregnant can quickly dehydrate you, make you feel ill, or even throw you into preterm labor. The risks to the unborn child are unknown, but it’s definitely best that you avoid overheating while pregnant. Know your limits and consult a professional.
[Back to Top] - Can you tan in a tanning bed nude?
- Yes! Unless it is prohibited by the tanning salon’s policy, strip down and tan away!If you want your tan to appear to be more natural, then wear a bathing suit so that you will still get those tanlines like those you’ll get from tanning at the beach.
[Back to Top] - Should I shower before or after using a tanning bed?
- Yes, to both! As a matter of fact, before you go to a tanning salon, be sure to exfoliate well and don’t apply any lotions or makeup to your skin. This helps the tanning lotion to soak in better thus helping you to get a better all-around tan!Once your tanning session is completed, it would probably feel great to wash that lotion off, and you should, unless it has a bronzer in it. Bronzers need to be left on for a few hours after your tanning session in order for you to reap the full benefits of the bronzer!
[Back to Top] - Are tanning beds sanitary?
- Yes and no, it depends on where you go. If you find a place with an excellent reputation and a large customer base, then it’s likely a good, clean place to go.Tanning beds are supposed to be cleaned in between uses, but we all know there’s people out there who just don’t like to do their jobs, so there is risk involved. Some of the nasties you can pick up from an unsanitary place include ringworm, pink eye, and staph infection.You can take some precautions though: Read reviews! If anyone has picked up a gross infection from the tanning salon, they’d surely tell the world! Ask an employee to wipe down the tanning bed before you get in, even if they say they already did. Also, avoid using a tanning bed if you have any cuts or breaks in your skin, so as to avoid having an easy entry point for nasty bacteria.Chances are the employee is trying to wipe down the bed quickly. If you’re at all concerned about this, then simply toss some wipes in your tanning bag and you’re good to go!
[Back to Top] - Should I wear tanning goggles in tanning beds?
- Absolutely! Even if you closed your eyes in the tanning bed, the rays can still penetrate your eyelids and cause damage to your eyes!The goggles may look silly, but they tend to be small with minimal coverage to it’s likely that if you can even tan there, it won’t appear as though you have raccoon eyes. Be sure to checkout our tanning goggle guide for more information on tanning goggles.
[Back to Top] - Should I wear sunscreen in tanning beds?
- No. When using a tanning bed, you should always stick with tanning lotions specifically made for tanning beds. Using sunscreen will defeat your purpose of using a tanning bed, and the oils from sunscreens can cause damage to the surface of the tanning bed itself. Stick with products made for indoor tanning. Check out our review of the best tanning bed tanning lotions.
[Back to Top] - How much does it cost to use a tanning bed?
- The cost of a tanning session will vary depending on where you go, if you’re buying single sessions, multiple future sessions, or a membership, and possibly the equipment you’ll be using. You can walk out paying as little as $4-5 for a single tan, or $20-$30+ monthly for a membership.
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When it comes to tanning beds, it’s always best to know the facts in order to make an informed decision, so never be afraid to ask a question!
