Ten minutes in a sunbed can be roughly equivalent to 1-2 hours in natural sunlight, depending on factors like sunbed intensity and skin type. However, this varies widely based on geographical location, time of day, and weather conditions. Always adhere to recommended exposure times to minimise skin damage risks.
Recommended Frequency of Tanning Bed Use
Each session should be brief, around 3-10 minutes, depending on your skin type. After the initial week, if your skin is responding well (no burns or excessive redness), you can gradually increase your sessions to three to four times per week.
Once you have a base tan, you can increase your tanning time by one minute each session. After four weeks of tanning, someone with Type 2 skin should be able to tan for about 10 to 12 minutes without burning. Exceeding this time for Type 2 skin can result in burns and is not recommended.
Tanning in a bed should be approached with caution due to the risks associated with UV exposure. Generally, it's recommended to limit tanning sessions to no more than 2-3 times per week. Here are some guidelines to consider:
However, while sunlight contains a mix of UVA and UVB radiation, sunbeds produce mainly UVA radiation, which penetrates deeper into your skin. It is estimated that 20 minutes on a sunbed can be equivalent to approximately four hours in the sun.
The time it takes to develop a tan from sunbeds varies widely among individuals. Generally, you might start noticing results after 3-5 sessions, with a more noticeable tan developing within 1-2 weeks of regular use.
Avoid using harsh or fragranced products immediately after tanning, as they may further irritate the skin.
Stand up sunbeds can give your skin a deeper colour, which is due to the bulbs in stand up beds being more intense than the bulbs in a lay down sunbed. So if you are aiming to achieve a very dark tan then a stand up may be the sunbed for you!
It is very important to leave a minimum of 72 hours between each session so that your skin has the chance to rest and regenerate between sessions.
It doesn't. The bulbs used in tanning beds emit mostly UVA light; however, your body needs UVB light to make vitamin D. To get vitamin D safely, board-certified dermatologists recommend that healthy adults get vitamin D from their diet.
This means that to achieve the same results as being in the sun, you won't need to be in the sunbed for nearly as long. A good example of just how different the results are taking into account that ten minutes in a sunbed compares to about 2 hours in direct sunlight.
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.
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).
The majority of our beds here at the Tanning Shop are fitted with specific 'Facial Tanners'. Facial tanners are a combination of specially coated filter discs and glass reflectors which provide comfortable facial tanning.
It is well known that exposure to sunlight and UV radiation causes the body to react by releasing endorphins that make people feel good. Conversely, lack of this stimulus can trigger Seasonal Affective Disorder in people who are prone to it. Sunbeds have been shown to alleviate this condition in some patients.
“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.
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.
☀️Tanning Tip Tuesday☀️ How to avoid the “bunny tail” or white spots on lower back or under your arms or sides: ✅ when using a lay down bed always reposition your body every few minutes to achieve an even tan. Switch from side to side and rest your arms behind your head .
Many of our clients frequently use their phones whilst lying on a sunbed whilst still wearing the sunbed goggles. In the short term this is ok to do but the temperature, humidity and frequencies emitted by the beds may possibly cause damage to the electronics of your phone.
How Long Does It Take to Get A Tan? Usually, the results are noticeable after three tanning sessions, but it may take a few weeks of consistency to get a defined tan (at least 3-4 times weekly). If you are preparing a base tan before going on a holiday, consider starting tanning three weeks prior.
I have been tanning, but I'm not getting any darker. Now what? You may have reached a tanning plateau. Everyone has a limit to how dark they can get, but to try to get past your current color we recommend switching the types of beds you use every few tanning sessions.