Do sunbeds age you?

Author: Rachael Ward  |  Last update: Sunday, September 28, 2025

Tanning beds mainly emit UVA rays, which penetrate the skin more deeply than UVB and are primarily responsible for tanning and skin aging. Both UVA and UVB rays contribute to a higher risk of skin cancer.

Do sunbeds make you age quicker?

“I encourage all my models to avoid sunbeds as they dry out your skin, cause premature ageing and wrinkles, can often burn, and are extremely carcinogenic.

Do tanning beds make you look older?

Radiation from indoor tanning also accelerates skin aging. People who tan may do so in order to improve their appearance. Ironically, tanning has the opposite effect. People who tan develop wrinkles, sagging or drooping skin, leathery skin and uneven tone at a much earlier age.

How fast do tanning beds age you?

Indoor tanning ages your skin 3 times faster than sunlight: indoor tanning can emit up to 15 times more UV radiation than sunlight. Stop indoor tanning now to have more beautiful, younger looking skin for the rest of your life!

Are there benefits to sunbeds?

It's crucial to recognise that the health benefits associated with exposure to natural sunlight, such as heightened Vitamin D production, diminished inflammation, improved skin conditions, reduced blood pressure, and enhanced heart health, can be effectively replicated through sunbed use.

Illegal Vitamin D Advice

How many sunbeds a week are safe?

Moderate tanning of 2-3 sessions a week is OK for everyone else but ensure you rest the skin for a minimum of 24 hours between each session and at least 48 hours for skin type 2. The European Standard advises not to exceed 60 sessions per annum.

Does tanning bed give you wrinkles?

Tanning — indoors or with the sun — makes your skin age more quickly. Wrinkles, age spots, and loss of skin firmness tend to appear years earlier in people who tan. Anyone who tans can also develop leathery skin, which people who never tan don't get.

What not to do after tanning bed?

Avoid using harsh or fragranced products immediately after tanning, as they may further irritate the skin.

How to tan without aging?

Safer tanning tips
  1. Wear sunscreen. Even if your goal is to tan, wearing a sunscreen of at least SPF 30 is essential. ...
  2. Move frequently. To help avoid sunburn on any one part of your body, be sure to change positions from time to time.
  3. Watch the clock. ...
  4. Take breaks. ...
  5. Prep before and treat after.

Do you get vitamin D from tanning beds?

no! A tanning bed will never provide you with the vitamin D that you need, nor is it safer than tanning outdoors. Not understanding the facts can literally mean the difference between life and death. Both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation cause cell damage that can lead to skin cancer.

Can you reverse aging from tanning?

Photodamage can't be completely reversed but some treatment options can help rejuvenate your skin. Talk to your provider about the risks of complications. Possible treatments include: Retinoids, retinols: These topical products provide their best benefit when treating early signs of photoaging.

Do sunbeds boost collagen?

More commonly, reference is made to tanning lamps (Solarium, sunbeds...) which also integrate lamps with red light. It is scientifically proven that red light with wavelenght close to 630 nm has the effect of stimulating the natural production of collagen by skin fibroblasts'.

What age group uses tanning beds the most?

Indoor tanning rates were higher among individuals who were young, white, and female. Rates of indoor tanning in the last year varied from 20.4% for 18−29 year-olds to 7.8% for those 65 years and older. A variety of demographic, health, and behavioral health risk factors correlated with indoor tanning.

Do sunbeds speed up metabolism?

It can help you lose weight – The UV lights present in a sunbed stimulate the production of nitric oxide, which in turn will boost your metabolism.

Are there benefits to tanning beds?

Health Benefits

Several health benefit claims such as improved appearance, enhanced mood, and increased vitamin D levels have been attributed to tanning. Furthermore, the Indoor Tanning Association claims that “catching some rays may lengthen your life” [5].

Are you supposed to flip over in a tanning bed?

No, you don't need to flip over in a tanning bed. In fact, many people tan stomach-down because it's more comfortable that way. However, if you want an evenly distributed tan, then you should flip over halfway through your session so that both sides of your body get equal exposure to the UV rays.

Should you put lotion on immediately after tanning bed?

The initial exposure to UV light can leave your skin a bit shocked, so it's crucial to give it some extra TLC. Hydrate your skin with a good quality, fragrance-free moisturizer right after your session and throughout the next few days.

Do tanning beds make you gain weight?

Tanning Sessions Can Reduce Weight

Being exposed to sources of UV-light ensures that the metabolism in a person's body is increasing. This is done so by nudging the thyroid gland for being even more active. This increase in the metabolism more often than not reflects in a substantial weight loss for you.

Why do I feel so good after tanning bed?

A new study shows why tanning bed rays feels so good to some people: UV light produces endorphins to which frequent tanners may become addicted.

Is a tanning bed worse than sun?

While some believe tanning in a bed is safer, tanning beds emit 12 times more UVA radiation than the sun. UVA rays are primarily linked to premature aging of the skin, causing wrinkles, fine lines and age spots.

Is 6 minutes on a sunbed too long?

During the early stages of building up a base tan we recommend tanning frequently (twice a week) for no more than 6 minutes regardless of your skin type (not including skin type 1).

Do tanning beds help with vitamin D?

Myth: You Get Vitamin D From Tanning Beds

As warm and cozy as a tanning bed may feel, Green says that a tanning bed is incapable of providing the healthy required amount of vitamin D needed.

How fast does tanning age your skin?

And UV damage in the form of wrinkles and hyperpigmentation often shows up long before people reach their 50th birthday. “I've seen women only 28 years old who've been tanning for years, and their skin looks terrible,” says Michele Green, M.D. “They look ten years older than their chronological age.”

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