Although many people can pull off porcelain skin (yes, we're talking about you, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson), the bronzed, golden tan of a Greek Adonis never seems to go out of style. Unfortunately, tanning beds aren't a safe alternative to natural sunlight, and exposure to their UV rays damages your skin in the same way that natural sunlight does, leading to premature aging of the skin and an increased risk of skin cancer. But if you are desperate to have a golden glow, there are several things you can do to tan more safely.
The best way to make your tanning experience safer is to opt for a sunless spray tan (like Mystic Tan) instead of a traditional UV tanning bed. Sunless tanning products have come a long way in recent years, and getting a spray tan no longer requires you to channel your inner Oompa Loompa. Most tanning salons that offer traditional UV tanning beds also offer sunless tanning options, and you can also buy sunless tanning products at your local drugstore to use at home.
This is not to say traditional UV beds don't occasionally have their uses. Getting a little color (often called a "base tan") before you go on a beach vacation can help prevent sunburn. If your skin is used to seeing only fluorescent lighting 24/7 and you suddenly spend a few days on the beach near the equator, you're likely to get fried, even if you're diligent about applying and reapplying sunscreen.
Like nearly everything in life, the key to tanning more safely is moderation. Tanning is a gradual process, and you should work your way up slowly, starting with only a few minutes at a time and stopping before you get too dark. Most tanning salons have resources to help you decide how long you should tan for when you're first starting out, but when in doubt, less is more. Also, just because you're trying to get a tan doesn't mean that you should skip the sunscreen, especially if you're first starting out and you're not sure how your skin will react. Opt for a sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB rays.
It is also important to note that you will be allowed to tan only once every 24 hours at the same facility. Tanning too much in a 24-hour period can lead to death, so this is a very important rule to abide by. If tanning safely is your goal, you should aim for a few times a week at the most to limit damage.
Some people feel that certain tanning beds are safer than others, depending on whether they produce more UVA or UVB rays. Unfortunately, both types of beds can have damaging effects, with UVB rays associated with more serious health issue like skin cancer and UVA rays associated with skin damage like fine lines and wrinkles. Most tanning beds use both types of UV rays, but much higher percentages of UVA rays are emitted than UVBs.
As you can see, there are some risks involved with tanning no matter how safe you strive to be. However, if you insist on using a tanning bed, following the above advice can help limit the amount of damage you do to your skin. If you're a parent, it is especially important that teens are monitored so they aren't tanning more often than a few times per week or for longer than 70 percent of the maximum session length.
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