Tanning Booth Safety

There's a lot of hubbub around the risks involved in using a tanning booth to obtain or maintain your gorgeous tan all year long. However, many of these risks can be avoided easily if you know what to look out for.

First and foremost, make sure that the tanning booths provided by your salon are clean, disinfected after each and every use, and maintained carefully. Bad UV bulbs should be replaced and technicians should monitor the time each customer spends inside. The beds should also be from this century. Newer beds have bulbs that prevent UVB light from burning your skin and can help you be a safer tanner. Find a quality salon to get a quality experience without unnecessary side effects.

Once you're sure your tanning booth is in ship-shape, remember to always, ALWAYS wear protective eye gear. UV light has been linked to several problems related to eyes such as cataracts and damage to the retina. Make sure your goggles fit precisely and ask for another pair if they don't. If your salon doesn't require protective eye gear, you may want to consider another salon. Also keep an eye out for salons that claim that their booths are 'non-glare' and therefore, do not require goggles. This is usually a warning sign that they aren't trustworthy.

Although too much exposure to UV light can cause burning, which increases the likelihood of getting skin cancer, using a tanning booth to get your tan will allow you to closely monitor the amount of exposure you get. If used sparingly and correctly, tanning booths can have benefits like increasing production of Vitamin D in your body and urging your skin to produce more melanin, a natural sunscreen. Remember that people with fair skin should build their tans extremely gradually in order to prevent adverse effects with their more susceptible skin.