Tanning Booths & Tanning Beds

Most of us the use the more traditional way of getting tan by being out in the sun for hours, and using lots of suntan lotion. There might come a time when you want a tan but just don’t have the time during the day so you decide to sign up at a tanning salon.

At the tanning salon you’ll be faced with a choice to make. Do you want to use a tanning booth? Or a tanning bed?

Well, here’s some information that will help you decide.

Tanning booths are made for you to stand in. They typically use stronger lamps, around 160 watt, which helps you to tan more quickly. They are less comfortable since you have to stand, but provide a more even tan since you can move around in them. And since they use stronger lamps, A typical tanning session will last about 10 minutes.

Tanning beds, as the name implies, are much more comfortable because you are lying down when tanning. They use lower power bulbs, 100 watts average, so your tanning sessions are usually longer than tanning booths. Because of this, A typical tanning session can last up to 15 minutes.

You should know that the FDA has strict regulations on exposure times and are constantly trying to lower them because of the risks involved. This is an industry that is quite regulated and new laws are constantly being changed and added.

So, what are the risks?

Artificial tanning appliances are just as dangerous as natural sunlight, and in some cases are more dangerous.

The UVA rays in tanning salons are 2-3 times more powerful than the UVA rays from the sun.

And long term exposure can lead to premature skin aging, wrinkles, dark spots and worst case, skin cancer.

This article is not meant for you to avoid tanning salons, but rather point out the differences between tanning booths and beds, as well as the risks involved. As with anything seek advice from a professional if you have any questions.