Sun Tanning Bed
Sun Tanning Bed – Why Get One?
Shopping for a sun tanning bed? Everyone looks and feels better with a tan. Don’t be embarrassed to emerge from a long winter with turkey-white skin. No need to feel self-conscious about sun tanning you body in public due to weight issues. Plus, you can fight off winter blues, boost Vitamin D production, treat acne and other skin problems with the light emitted by a tanning bed. If you’d like to save money, time and gas traveling to the tanning salon, or don’t live near an establishment with a tanning bed, why get your own?
The Importance of Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a vital nutrient that can create a world of improvement for your heart health, bones, skin, immunity as well as your mood. It is so crucial, that your body creates it naturally when your skin is exposed to sunlight. The truth is, you are your own personal Vitamin D generating machine. However, lacking the necessary exposure to the sun, it’s difficult to maintain sufficient levels of Vitamin D throughout the year. This is especially true if where you live doesn’t allow you to get enough sunshine during colder months.
For absence of an effective, convenient solution, many people pay no heed to the problem of Vitamin D deficiency. This contributes to the poor condition of many peoples’ health. The risks of low Vitamin D levels, such as depression, autism as well as cancer, are simply too serious to ignore.
Things To Consider When Buying Your Sun Tanning Bed
Warranty - A lifetime warranty on the frame and structural integrity is optimum. Keep in mind that your full body weight will be exerting force on the bed when you lay down, unless your shopping for stand up tanning beds.
Factory Trained Personal – A tanning bed in need of repair isn’t something that can shipped by the US Postal Service. Make sure you’ll be able to get an authorized service technician to your house when needed.
Size – Yes, size does matter, even in sun tanning beds. A 6′ bed is for users under 5′ 8″. A 7′ tanning bed can comfortably fit someone up to 6′ 9″.
Electrical – Make sure the wiring in your house is capable of supplying the power needed to properly run your tanning bed. Some beds use 120v/15 amps, some 12ov/20 amps and the larger beds will use 220v just like an electric dryer. You may need to hire an electrician to do some wiring.
Room Size – Measure the room you will be using. Allow approximately 9′ in length and about 7′ in width for a comfortable fit. That should also give enough room for a chair, small table, changing area and a fan.
Bulbs- The bulbs are the heart of the tanning bed. Make sure you understand the types of bulbs used in the tanning bed you are selecting and where to get replacements. There are two types of ultra-violet light. UVB is what causes the melanin to form under the skin. UVA is what causes the melanin to turn brown, that is, “tan”. Tanning bulbs are UVA with a percentage of UVB in them, but the percentage is relative to the size and output of the bulb. If you ever need to purchase replacement bulbs, they must be compatible with the originals. Don’t be tempted to buy cheaper bulbs or ones with higher UVB output. You may notice that some bulbs have two different colors like a pink end and blue end. One of the colors has more UVB output for hard to tan areas of the body, so be sure to learn which is which on the model you’re considering. Some bulbs also have a reflective mirror on the back sides to boost tanning power. Also pay attention to the number of blubs used in the bed, as it can be around 16 in the least expensive beds to 28 in the pricier models.
Acrylics - Just like bulbs, the acrylics, the “plastic” shielding the bulbs and what you lay on, need to be replaced when tanning output decreases by approximately 20%. Find out how many tanning hours they last.
Cleaners/Disinfectants – The acrylic surfaces of the bed need to be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after each use to control bacteria and to allow the UV rays to penetrate without being obstructed by body oils and perspiration.
Timer – Laying in a tanning bed is relaxing and the user can easily fall asleep. You’ll want a timer built into the tanning bed that turns the lamps off when the timer expires to prevent over exposure. There are manual timers with a dial that must be turned, much like kitchen timers, and there are digital timers.
Cooling Fan – The UV tanning bulbs generate heat so you might want to consider a tanning bed with cooling fans, but you can always use a regular household fan to blow a breeze your way.
Sun Tanning Bed Brands
Some of the the tanning bed manufacturers that make residential beds are Wolff, Solar Storm, ProSun, ESB, SunVision, and Sun Quest.
