Tanning Bed Precautions

There are many precautions you can take in order to have the safest tanning bed experience possible.
Included in these are a few situations in which people should abstain entirely from tanning beds.
If you’re ever unsure, you should consult with your physician or ask a reputable tanning professional for advice. In lieu of that, err on the side of caution and skip it!

• Don’t use oils intended for outdoor tanning. Not only are they unnecessary, because they’re not formulated for use with tanning beds, they may damage your salon’s equipment.
• If you have tattoos, do ask the staff at your salon what type of sunblock is okay for their beds. SPF protection will protect your ink, which fades with exposure to UV rays.
• If you wear acrylic nails, see if your salon sells coverings for them. UV exposure can cause them to yellow.
• Wear lip balm with SPF protection. Your lips can’t tan, but they sure can burn! Sunburned lips are painful, but completely avoidable.
• Eye protection is a must. This doesn’t mean keeping your eyes closed, or even placing a wash cloth over them. It means you need to wear the goggles. Your eyelids only block 25% of UV rays, and overexposure can lead to a wide variety of significant problems. Over time, you can develop cataracts, colorblindness, loss of night vision, and in the most severe instances, blindness.
• It should go without saying, but if you have ever had skin cancer, or your dermatologist has found pre-cancerous cells, you shouldn’t tan indoors or outdoors.
• If you have any major medical problems, be sure to ask your doctor if UV exposure or an increase in body temperature is dangerous to you.
• People with contagious illnesses or skin conditions should refrain from using tanning beds as a courtesy to other patrons and staff.
• If you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant, you shouldn’t tan.
• If you experience a rash, tingling, or itching during your tanning session, it could be a sign of overexposure. Get out of the bed immediately, and be sure to tell someone who works there, so that they can make a note to bump your time down during your next visit.
• Certain over the counter medications as well as some herbal supplements can cause photosensitivity, which means that you’re more prone to burning. Ibuprofen, along with common cold medications and antihistamines fall into this category. If you’ve used any herbs or OTC medicines within 24 hours of your tanning session, be sure to do your research so you don’t end up with a painful burn.
• Many prescription drugs are contraindicated for sun and heat exposure. Some of the most common include birth control, blood pressure medications, and antibiotics.
• Read the information you receive from the pharmacist with every new prescription you get.
  If your skin is so fair that you never get a tan from the sun, you just burn, tanning beds aren’t going to change that for you. Tanning beds produce tans using the same UV rays as the sun, so you’ll get the same results. If you fall into this category, you’re better off getting a spray tan or using self-tanning lotions.
• The FDA requirements state that a full 24 hours must pass in between tanning sessions. This is to protect your skin, and no reputable tanning salon will allow you to tan more frequently than this. Some people try to get around this by going to more than one tanning salon. We highly recommend against this practice. Not only is it incredibly dangerous, it might make you burn, but it won’t help you get a great tan any faster.

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