Bobs Musings

Making the decision to finally buy your own tanning bed is a solid one. Over time, it well definitely start to pay for itself in just a few short years. However, tanning beds can be terribly dangerous if improperly employed, so you should first educate yourself on operation safety.

If you don’t have eye protection, never enter a tanning bed. Even other forms of protection you might supplement the experience with, such as cloth, will not filter UV rays as effectively. Without eye-wear, you will burn your retinas and in some cases you will get cataracts. Home tanning salons are less structured, and thus, you are more likely to be relaxed and simply go without eye-wear.

There has been recent news that UVA rays used in tanning beds are more harmful than UVB rays. This has yet to be proved through long term studies. While UVB rays have less noticed damage on the surface, the rays penetrate the deep tissue of the skin and could still cause deep damage. Until more studies come out, it’s best to use both UV types sparingly.

Tanning beds that have built-in alarms are your best bet. It’s easy to fall asleep in a tanning bed when you own the bed, and it doesn’t shut off automatically after a certain time passes. Falling asleep under the lamp even one will cause irreversible damage to your skin that could result in aging of the skin and even cancer if you aren’t careful.

Some types of medications are dangerous if you go tanning often. A certain prescription can influence the way your skin sheds, which can lead to severe burns even with normal sunlight exposure. Always ask a doctor and consult your prescription when planning on tanning. Medications that commonly have this warning are prescribed by dermatologist, but it’s safe to always ask whenever you are given a new medication.

Hydrate your body after each session with your home tanning bed. Hydration will put vitamins and minerals into the skin to help protect and rebuild. Rubbing in lotion also helps smooth away the dead skin cells that are shed after a tanning session. The new layer of skin can sometimes be sore when exposed- but with the proper lotion applied, the healing process will make the pain easier to bear.

Closing Comments

Having a home tanning bed really is a blessing. Just be sure to observe all of the safety measures outlined in your operating manual, as well as those listed here. That way you can stay free of aging and cancerous skin cells that come as a result of poor tanning habits.

Learn more about home tanning beds and indoor tanning.