The popularity of the home tanning bed as well as commercial spas that provide tanning beds as a service, is growing rapidly. But with the desire for instant results comes the nightmare of instant skin damage, as we see in the stories below.

Jennifer Lapierre is a 32 year old secretary at Lyons and Bell in Chicago who has permanent damage to parts of her lower legs and feet from falling asleep under a home tanning bed lamp.

She was trying to prepare for a ski weekend in Colorado, something she had been looking forward to for some time and had saved and scrimped all year for the adventure.

Unfortunately she never made it to Colorado but instead visited the emergency ward where she spent the greater part of a weekend being treated for her mistake. Jennifer said she never used a tanning bed before her tragic experience and her advice to others was simple: "Never use one alone", said Jennifer. " You can never underestimate the lulling effect the heat and the light and your prone position on the bed have until it's too late."

Brad Xemes, of New York City, found, when he was using his home tanning bed that he had no idea of how to prepare his skin for the time he was to spend using it. He assumed that a little suntan lotion was all he needed so just used what he found in his medicine cabinet. But the lotion, something he had picked up at a pharmacy old-stock sale, was way out of date and the home tanning bed gave him what he calls " the worst lobster skin case in history."

Whether it was the inferior lotion or the fact that he did not apply sufficient quantities, Brad is uncertain, but he is certain of one thing..." I suggest you research what you are going to apply to your skin before hand and make sure it's not some past-sell-by-date stuff. It can have bad results."

In General...

Whether you are using a tanning bed for the first time or are an old hand, my advice is to be careful! Tanning beds, whether they are used commercially in a spa or at home, can make you more attractive but only if used in moderation and with respect for you own skin.