Many people only know that tanning beds are beds you tan on. These are actually beds that emit ultraviolet light. Out of that, about 95 percent is UVA and about 5 percent is UVB. This is what produces the tan. You will probably be able to recall the many fluorescent lamps that are used in regular tanning beds. These lamps are designed to emit UV that comes very close to that of the sun. Tanning beds in the home have anywhere between 12 and 28 lamps. Depending on the size of the tanning bed, each lamp consumes around 100Watts. The beds that are found in salons run anywhere between 24 and 60 lamps, where each consume between 100 and 200Watts of energy. Tanning beds are able to produce a tan the same as one produced by the sun. The reason for this is that tanning beds emit similar UV levels than what you could get from the sun on a typical day at the beach.

There are many reasons why people use tanning beds. These could be because they do not have the time to go down to the beach because of their busy lifestyle, or they are able to get tanned faster on a tanning bed than tanning in the sun. Many celebrities are tanned, and fans conclude that they have to look that good otherwise they are not going to be beautiful, sexy, and popular if they are not tanned. There are many questions that people ask themselves when they decide to use the tanning bed for a few minutes. Because it produces a tan faster than the sun, people are left with one question: should I tan in my underwear or in the nude? This depends on you. If you feel that you can live with tan lines then there should be no problem. If you find tan lins unattractive then tan in the nude. The decision is only yours to make.

Many people that are interested in tanning beds should know that like everything else in life there are the pros and there are the cons. However, with some people who are already aware of the cons they do not mind it. They will continue to use tanning beds until it is too late. It is the same as warning a cigarette smoker of the dangers, but they do not mind it. Some of the pros when it comes to using the tanning bed are: where to get vitamin D from the sun. In the winter months when there is no sun, you will still be able to get your vitamin D, which is important to the body and the mind. The tan you will get in 10 minutes on a tanning bed is equivalent to a tan in the sun for 3 hours. Some of the cons include: your risk of cancer is increased and your skin ages faster. If you are not going to use a sunscreen, by the time you reach 40 you are going to look 60.

Depending on your skin tone, you will be able to tell from there what the required amount of days a week would work for you. If you are fairly white and do not sit in the sun often, you could go twice or maybe three times a week for about 10 minutes a session. It also depends how fast you want your tan to come. If you are using the tanning beds at the gym, it would be a good idea to ask the trainer or someone that has experience in this department to know exactly how often to use it and for how long. 10 minutes a session 3 days a week is safe. You might also want to use tanning lotion if you want to tan faster. They contain accelerators that will help you tan quicker. Beauty salons and spas have them. It is always best to research this topic further if you want to know a little more.

Tanning lotion is very important if you do not want to end up looking twice your age. Many people neglect to use lotions and although they do not see the results so soon, they will a few years down the line. Tanning lotions contain accelerators and other ingredients that will prevent your skin from drying out and peeling. We all see what the sun does to skin. When you look at someone that spends too much time in the sun you will notice sun spots and dryness. Tanning beds will do the same thing to your skin if you do not use tanning lotions. If you are going to use the tanning bed for the first time it is recommended that you use a tanning lotion and only spend a few minutes on the bed. Judge from the results after your first session, and then work out a roster for near future visits. Tanning lotions are very important if you want to keep your skin in good condition for longer instead of it aging quicker.

Tanning beds normally have four levels, and because of this you need to pay attention to the bed you are laying on. The first level bed is for a newcomer. This bed emits only enough UV rays to get you started. Level 2 tanning beds have brighter bulbs and emit more UV rays. Then you get the level 3 bed. This is the tanning bed you would want to use all the time. This is a great bed if you have a base tan and would like to keep it. Level 4 beds consist of high quality bulbs, and you would use this if you want a tan quickly. You will probably need two sessions to get the base you want using the level 4 bed.