We know we need to protect our skin with sunscreen but there are many people asking: Can you wear sunscreen in a tanning bed?
In this article we will take a look at this and other tips to help you get the most of your tan.
Can you wear sunscreen in a tanning bed?
There is no need to wear sunscreen in a tanning bed, and in fact you shouldn’t do it, because it will prevent you from getting a proper tan.
Additionally, there is no reason to wear sunscreens on tanning beds because sunscreens are designed to protect you from natural UV rays, and not the artificial waves that are produced by the tanning beds.
How do I protect my skin in a tanning bed?
Use a proper tanning bed lotion
If you are going to a tanning bed, make sure to get a high quality tanning bed lotion that contains ingredients that will protect and nourish your skin.
There are dedicated tanning bed lotions with different degrees of bronzing, varying from low go high level bronzing. Some are specially designed to give an extra brown color if you are looking for a booster.
Having this in mind, you don’t really need to use sunscreen to go to a tanning bed, as the tanning bed lotions are the best options for this situation.
Aim For the right Time and frequency
It can take a maximum of 20 minutes to get a tan on a tanning bed, and it is better not to stay there for too long. The beauty tanning studio professionals will be able to guide on the right time for your skin type.
Also, it is indicated that you don’t attend tanning beds more than three times a week and in some cases, you will need less than that.
Once again, a dedicated professional needs to check your skin and guide you on the best option.
Additionally, wait for at least 48 hours between sessions, this way you can give enough time to get the tan developed and protect your skin from over exposure.
Protect Your Eyes
Always use eye protection, as solely keeping the eyes closed won’t protect you at all. There are special eye protection goggles for tanning beds and they are normally provided by most tanning studios.
Try calling them beforehand to ask if they will provide disposable protection.
Know what to wear
You can wear your bikini but if you want to tan naked, make sure to cover sensitive areas, which are usually the areas of your body that you would cover on the beach anyways.
Preparation For a safe Tanning bed experience
Prepare your skin by taking a shower and exfoliating the body before your tanning bed session. If you need to shave, make sure you do at least 24 hours before the appointment.
The reason that’s important to exfoliate, is because it will help you get rid of dead skin that may rip off after getting your tan. So, this is a quick tip to help your results to last longer.
Another good tip is to get your shaving done before the tanning bed, because if you do it after, it may affect your skin and spoil your tanning. Maybe it won’t happen, but it is still a possible scenario.
After that, the next step is to hydrate your skin. This also protects your skin, and leaves it prep for tanning. The suggestion is to use an oil free body moisturizer, because oils can conflict with the process.
Lastly, apply lip balm and make sure that your body is oil free. If you are taking medicine, make sure they won’t cause any reaction.
Tanning Bed Common Risks
You should think about tanning beds with caution because there are some risks that are exposed when you choose this type of artificial tanning.
Do you know that this method is even forbidden in some countries? Here are some of the possible risks you are exposed to, when using a tanning bed as a tanning solution:
Skin Cancer
Natural sun can lead to skin cancer if you overdo it without protection, that is also possible to happen when using tanning beds. In fact many dermatologists state that it is not safe to do tanning bed on a longer run.
Premature Aging
The UV rays that are radiated from tanning beds can affect skin cells, causing fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots and so on.
Skin Burn
Always pay attention and make sure you are attending a reputable and serious tanning bed studio, because there are cases of people that had several sunburn throughout the entire body.