Tanning beds are a great way to get that golden glow, but there is one important thing you need to know before laying down in a tanning bed. The UV light used by these machines can be harmful if not handled correctly.
This blog post will cover the basics of How to Lay in Tanning Bed and what precautions you should take while doing it.
How to Lay in Tanning Bed
With your arms and legs outstretched, lie down inside the tanning bed on your back. Laying with your legs together or with your arms at your sides might result in an uneven or patchy tan.
- When you first get in bed, expand your body out as far as possible to ensure that all parts of your skin are exposed.
- You may not only get uneven results if you don’t put yourself in the tanning bed correctly, but your safety may be as well. You can eliminate any danger of harm to your skin and eyes by using the proper postures.
- When it comes to flipping over during the session, a timer or a staff member telling you to flip over is usually used as an indication.
- You may support your chin by bending your arms if this posture is ungainly.
- If you obtain your tan in a vertical booth, there is no need to worry about turning your body to get an even tan.
Different Positions for a Tanning Bed
When planning to buy a tanning bed or go for a tanning bed session, it is essential to understand the different positions and features available for each one.
When Tanning Your Neck
To ensure that you are comfy while tanning, most tanning beds include a neck cushion. You will not obtain an uniform tan while resting with a pillow because you may end up still being able to move frequently.
Many people forget about their necks while tanning, resulting in a much lighter section of skin on the nape of their neck than the rest of their body. To avoid this, take the pillow away and lie flat. To increase your comfort, tilt your head to the side. Before you start your session, make sure your neck is exposed to the tanning bed.
Limbs and Arms
Throughout a tanning session, make sure your upper and lower limbs are equally tanned. When you lie flat with your arms at your sides and legs together, the insides of your arms and legs will not get tan.
Spread your arms and legs apart to avoid uneven tanning. Many individuals discover that raising their arms above their head provides for an even tan. To guarantee that all of your limbs are fully exposed, rotate your legs and arms every few minutes.
Back and Stomach
Most people tan on their backs. Most of the important skin is exposed while lying flat. Try to flatten out as much as possible. Raise your knees a little during the final part of your tanning session to avoid creases on your back side.
You can create a smooth, flawless tan by stretching the skin on your back side. It might be unpleasant to lay on your stomach for the duration of the tanning session.
To achieve an all-over tan, halfway through your treatment, change from laying on your back by flipping and laying on your stomach. Changing positions will also reduce crease lines on the back surface.
Raccoon Eyes
Always use safety goggles while tanned. Your eyelids are composed of delicate, paper-thin skin. The UV rays from the tanning bed can burn your eyes and harm them. You may achieve a beautiful face tan even if you are going to wear the right goggles.
While still on your tanning session, change the position of your goggles on your face once or twice so that they do not stay on one particular area for too long. It’s also important to ensure that the goggles seal properly over your eyes as you alter them.
Benefits of Laying Properly in a Tanning Bed
When a person wants a tan, the most common way to obtain one is by going to a tanning bed. A tanning bed actually has quite a few benefits for those who enjoy using them.
Here’s what you can expect:
- Even tanning
- Avoid tan lines
- Eliminating damages to skin and eyes
- Avoid butt circles
Even Tanning
When a person first starts tanning, they’ll notice that their skin is usually a dark shade of pink. Over time, your actual skin tone will show through.
If you’re someone who wants color immediately, you can always use one of the many sunless tanning products on the market which will give you an instant color.
Avoid Tan Lines
When a person uses a tanning bed, they get an even tan. This means that their skin doesn’t get dark in one specific area; instead, it is evenly tanned all over—and there are no tan lines.
Now, this doesn’t mean that you go overboard. A tan bed is meant to give an even tan, not an extreme dark color which can cause cancer .
Eliminating Damages to Skin and Eyes
Using a tanning bed, you are not exposed to the harmful rays of the sun. You can get an even tan without having any damage done to your skin or eyes.
If you’re someone who likes using sunscreen when outside, just put on some extra when in the tanning bed. This will help prevent burns along with reducing your risk of getting a tanning bed burn.
Avoid Butt Circles
No one wants butt circles, but it’s a common problem among those who use tanning beds. The solution? Make sure you lay down on the tanning bed properly . When you do, butt circles are never an issue.
Many people who love to use tanning beds believe that it is the best method for obtaining an even color all over their body. It’s also beneficial when you want to avoid butt circles, moons, raccoon eyes, and tan lines.
How to Assure of an Even Tan with a Tanning Bed
When you are looking for a tanning bed, there are some things to look out for. One of the most important is making sure the equipment is in good condition so you can get an even tan each time you go in. You will not want to spend money on something that is functioning well because this will cause you problems after a while and it just isn’t worth your time.
Tan your sides last-minute during your session. While the bed has been tanning your sides throughout the session, ensuring that you spend at least 30 seconds on each side will ensure that your tan is uniform all over your body.
Here are some things to look for in a tanning bed that will assure you of an even tan each time you go in.
- The first thing you need to look out for is where the light bulbs are placed because this will have an effect on how even the tanning bed should be. You should look at other beds if there are more bulbs on one side of the bed. This can cause your tan to be uneven because some areas may get more exposure than others. Another thing to look for is how long the lights are or if they are placed in an area that will require you to spend less time on them so they do not burn you.
- Look for a tanning bed that has the lights placed evenly over the top of it. This is done because this will allow you to make sure that every part of your body gets an equal amount of light.
- The final thing you should look at when buying a new bed for tanning is how long the bulbs need to be to get a full tan out of them. You will want to get a bed that either takes the same amount of time on every bulb or has them in place on both sides. This way, you can have an even tan no matter how long it takes for each light to heat up.
If you follow these simple tips for choosing a tanning bed, you will be able to have a quick and easy tan each time you go out. Also, if the bed is even and well-lit, you will be able to get an accurate reading on your monitor so that you can maintain your tan as long as possible.
Precautions of Tanning Beds
The American Academy of Ophthalmology claims that tanning beds give off 100 times more UV radiation than what you would receive from the sun. This may harm the tissues outside and within your eyes and eyelids.
More negative effects in detail include:
- Skin Cancer – Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, and it’s linked with tanning beds.
- Immune System Suppression – Tanning beds can suppress the immune system for up to three hours after use.
- Sunburn – Just one sunburn doubles your risk of developing skin cancer.
- Actinic or Solar Keratoses – Tanning beds may contribute to these precancerous growths.
- Eye Damage (Photokeratitis, Cataracts, etc) – as mentioned above, the American Academy of Ophthalmology claims that tanning beds are linked with eye damage.
Notes on risk of too much tanning:
- Tanning causes an increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma as well as melanoma. As said, one tanning session, whether indoor or outdoor, boosts the chance of developing skin cancer. The greatest thing you can do is to never tan with tanning beds.
- According to research in JAMA Internal Medicine, based on news, the average number of individuals who visit an emergency room each year for reasons connected to indoor tanning is 3,234. Burns, fainting, and eye injuries were some of the most frequent injuries reported in the study.
- UV radiation, whether from the sun or artificial sources like sun lamps in tanning beds, raises the risk of skin cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, is linked to getting severe sunburns, especially at a young age.
- The UV light bulbs create too much vitamin D. Over time, dangerously high vitamin D levels, known as hypervitaminosis D, can harm bones, joint tissue, and kidneys.
- Some tanning salons tout the benefits of sunbeds and tanning beds in reducing acne scarring. This is completely wrong, and tanning beds can actually harm and aggravate acne scars-infected skin!
- Tanning causes skin damage and accelerated visible signs of aging. It’s true that there is no such thing as a safe or healthy tan.
UV radiation can be just as harmful to the skin as sun exposure. Tanning beds, on the other hand, are far more dangerous. UVA rays can penetrate deeper into the skin’s layers.
What to Prepare Before a Tanning Bed Session?
Before you take a tanning session at the nearest tanning bed salon, it is recommended to find out what you should do beforehand in order to get the most out of your tanning session. Here are some useful tips that will help you prepare for your next visit.
How to Prepare Yourself Before a Tanning Session?
1) Stay Hydrated – Drinking plenty of water before and after tanning sessions will quicken the process of hydration and will also prevent you from feeling thirsty during and after your session. Avoid drinking caffeinated and alcoholic beverages, since they can dehydrate you further. Stay away from too much dairy products for the same reason.
2) Reduce Exposure to Sunlight – Exposure to sunlight is not good for the skin, so avoid going out in the sun during peak hours if possible. Try to wear dark sunglasses and use sunscreen lotions before you step outside. If possible, stay in your car when driving with windows rolled up, since most cars nowadays are equipped with tinted glass that protects against harmful UV rays.
3) Wear Protective Apparel – Wear protective clothing before tanning sessions. If you are planning to visit the tanning salon wearing shorts, make sure they cover your knees to protect against skin cancer that has been known to be prevalent among people who have had unprotected exposure to UV radiation during their younger days.
4) Avoid Tanning Beds Before 31st Week of Pregnancy – Tanning beds use UVA and UVB rays that can be extremely harmful to the skin. Since pregnancy alters your skin’s sensitivity to these harmful rays, it is recommended to stay away from tanning beds at least until the 31st week or 9 months of pregnancy.
Preparing yourself before tanning is important to make sure that you are taking the necessary precautions to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. By following these simple tips, you can ensure that your tanning experience will be a safe and enjoyable one.
Conclusion
Laying in a tanning bed properly can help you get smooth and even tan for the summer. If possible, try to find a good salon that will offer you quality service at an affordable price.
Just take note of the precautions that you need to take before your tanning session in order to stay safe and healthy. You would not want to end up in the hospital with skin cancer because you wanted to look good for a day or a whole season.
