Tanning Bed Safety

Using a tanning bed is completely a personal choice. Most people do not give much importance to tanning bed safety as they believe that tanning indoors is not as damaging as tanning outdoors. Tanning bed safety is a prerequisite as it protects the body from the harmful ultraviolet radiations which can cause skin cancer, premature skin aging and other skin and health problems. So, if you choose to tan, then there are certain tanning bed safety rules that must be followed to decrease the risk of skin damage from tanning beds. Read the below mentioned tanning bed safety tips to make tanning a happy experience.

Tanning Bed Safety Tips
Safety of tanning beds is the most important factor which must be taken into consideration before attempting it. You can reduce the tanning bed effects including risks of any damage to your skin, eyes and other concerns by paying attention to the below mentioned tanning beds safety tips.

Saloon Precautions
Ensure that the saloon you are choosing for tanning is a reputed one. Make sure that the staff running the tanning bed salon is enough knowledgeable and qualified. They should have proper knowledge about tanning bed safety, risks associated with tanning and the tanning bed equipment itself. Also, they should be maintaining their beds and check that they have tanning safety advice posters in full view. Also, the tanning equipment should meet standard specifications and compliance with radiation emitting device regulations. Not only will your tan depend upon using a high quality bed, but so will your safety. Even if you are purchasing a home tanning bed, opt for the best quality. With so many options available, be sure to research on each possible bed in depth before you make this big purchase. Read more on tanning bed care.

Right Age for Tanning
Children and teenagers often have a lot of craze about tanning. However, children under the age of 16 should not use tanning beds. The skin of these children is more vulnerable to damage due to tanning.

Maintain the Hygiene
An important safe tanning tip is hygiene. Make sure that the bed used and other tanning equipments in the saloon are very clean. Once registered and shown to the tanning bed area, you must look for a cleaning solution and a towel, thorough cleaning can cut down on skin infections that might be possibly passed from one customer to the next. You must check that all contact surfaces in the tanning beds should be disinfected between uses. If you find that anything is not clean, immediately ask the staff member to get it cleaned before you start with the tanning session. Read more about how to use a tanning bed to have a safe tanning session.

Read the Warnings
You must check the warning labels on tanning lamps used in tanning beds and read them carefully. These labels specify the recommended exposure time to the lamps for different types of skin and some also indicate how often exposures to the lamps should occur. Do follow the warnings and do not exceed the recommendations.

Heat Shield
A heat shield should be present to prevent heat skin burns that may result from contacting the tanning lamps. A clear plastic sheet is probably used as a heat shield. This will also provide protection for the individual in the tanning bed, if in case there is a lamp breakage.

Tanning Lotions
How much amount of UVA and UVB rays will reach your skin, depends upon the tanning lotion. You can use hydrating tanning lotions made specifically for tanning beds; these will help in keeping your skin safe from the rays.

Maintain the Time
In the attempt to get that enticing tanned look, some of you might be ignoring all the safety facts and warnings on the tanning beds. Remember that you have to follow the maximum exposure time in the tanning bed per day. If it is supposed to be twenty minutes, stay in the bed for twenty minutes, do not exceed the timing.

Avoid Consecutive Sessions
You must strictly avoid consecutive tanning bed sessions. You must wait for a minimum of 48 hours before going for the tanning bed session again. For the best tanning bed safety, you can further increase the time interval between tanning sessions.

Eye Protection
Proper protection such as peepers or goggles is highly recommended. Following this tanning bed safety guideline is very essential in order to keep your eyes safe and healthy, else you can damage your retina or cornea. Moreover, you might also end up with cataract which can lead to blindness. Read more on tanning bed tips.

Existing Skin Problems
Before opting for tanning, you should consider your regular skin reactions when exposed to sun. You should not ignore the existing skin problems. If you are suffering from skin conditions such as rashes, infections or any other skin problems, it is very essential to consult a physician prior to tanning. Also, if you are on any medication, you should ensure that the medication does not increase the likeliness of sunburns. This is one of the important tanning beds safety tips often overlooked by people.

Stay Updated
You must be aware of the dangers and risks of tanning. Keep yourself updated with what’s going on in the tanning bed industry. Check for new guidelines, regulations and tanning bed safety rules regularly so that your tanning experience is the best. Knowing the tanning bed safety facts will allow you to make the best decisions about your tanning bed whether at home or in a salon and to keep your skin healthy. Read more on tanning bed facts.

Read more about tanning beds:

• Tanning Bed Dangers
• High Pressure Tanning Beds.

There is nothing as completely safe tanning and therefore, skin cancer or any type of skin damage from tanning beds is always a possibility. Whether you are exposing your skin to the rays of the sun outdoors or indoors in a tanning bed, remember that you are increasing your risk of skin cancer. Though you may agree that tanning beds are not safe, the fact remains that most of you will use them at one time or another; after all it is so hard to resist the temptation of a gorgeous glowing sun-kissed look. So, follow the aforementioned tanning beds safety tips and lessen the risk of burns and other dangers associated with tanning bed.