Expert: Susan Ruegger / Certified Tanning Consultant - 1/20/2004

Question
Hi Susan! I have very light skin and was wondering if you could tell me the benefits and dangers of tanning booths. Also, how long should I tan for the first couple of times without burning too much? Thank you so much!
Meg

Answer
Hi Meg.
Good question.  Do you normally burn in the sun?  Have you ever had a tan before at all?  If the answer is yes to both (which I am assuming), you should start out with less than half of a full session when you first start tanning.  All tanning beds and booths are rated for the maximum time they allow,  This is decided by the strength and number of the bulbs used in the device. So all tanning sessions are not the same amount of time.  The average is 20 minutes.  
 I would recommend starting with 7 minutes your first time if the bed is a 20 minute bed.  Gradually increase your exposure time with each tanning session.  Avoid burning at all costs.
You do not want to burn.  Burning is far more dangerous and damaging than tanning is.
 A lot of people tell me, "First I burn and then I tan.  That's how I have been all my life."  Well if that's true, they have been doing it wrong their whole life...lol.  Burning is counter-productive to the tanning process.  Burned skin is damaged skin and it will just flake and peel off (so will the color). The best tans are achieved gradually, increasing exposure times as color begins to show.
 The risks of tanning is premature wrinkling and skin cancer.  As I said before, burning is more damaging than tanning. Tanning is actually natures protection against sunburn.  It's a natural body function.  The key is to tan in moderation and not over-do it.  I do not recommend tanning more than 3-4 times a week when working on a base tan, taking a day off between sessions.  After you have a base tan, 2 sessions a week should be enough to maintain it. Just make sure your skin is moisturized.  Moisturized skin tans much better than dry skin.  It also helps maintain the tan longer.
 The benefits of tanning are A: it helps prevent the skin from sunburning (The really harmful result of over-exposure), B: It provides Vitamin D, a vitamin we usually only get from the sun and supplements, C:  It has been found to help aid in depression and D:  You just look better  :)  There are other things that tanning does as well, but the FDA prevents me from mentioning them because the findings are inconclusive.
 I hope this answered your questions. Please write again if you would like me to elaborate on something.

Susan