Spring is here, it’s getting warmer, Spring Breakers are out in full force, and swimsuits start to hit the shelves. Suddenly, the gyms are packed, everyone is on a diet, and you are starting to think about getting in shape to wear that bikini. And, when it comes time to get in shape for summer, most people also think “tanâ€? and head on down to the local tanning salon. But, are there risks involved in taking a tanning bed over the sun’s ray?

Of course there are. While everyone knows that staying in the sun too long will have some harmful effects without the proper preventions, most people assume that tanning beds won’t do the same thing. The truth is that tanning beds also use the same type of UV rays that come from the sun to tan your skin, and without the proper prevention, you can cause just as much damage as laying out in the sun. Some of these health problems are minor nuisances that everyone expects sometimes, such as sunburns, but others, such as skin cancer, are ones that people don’t consider. Other serious health problems can occur if you are using a tanning bed too much, such as photo-sensitivity, which can make you too sensitive to light and put a damper on your beach trips, and severe damage to the cornea of your eyes.

While these dangers go widely unnoticed in today’s society, most salon owners take it upon themselves to post cautions, regulations, and other notices to help their customers understand that there are dangers and rules that should be followed when using tanning beds. Eye protection is provided and required by most tanning salons, and for good reason. Professional tanning salons will also clean each tanning bed before it is used to prevent infections, diseases, and even the common cold, from jumping from customer to customer. Although there are no state or federal laws that govern the tanning industry, most salon owners do a pretty good job of policing their customers. This includes timing each session, different pressure beds for different skin tones, and helping the new customers choose the right length tanning beds, and lotions to ensure that they don’t have any problems or injuries.

When it comes time for you to head down to the salon and jump into a tanning bed, make sure that you read all the notices your salon has posted about possible problems due to tanning. Knowing what the dangers are can help you to avoid them and keep yourself safe while tanning. You should also make sure that you follow all the rules that the salon has put in place, such as always wearing eye protection, using the timer to ensure that you don’t stay in too long, and any other safety rules that your local salon owner has put in place. Following the rules might sound boring, but it can help to prevent some of the damage and problems that can occur if you are overexposed in a tanning bed.

So, when you are ready to head down to your local tanning salon to gain that golden glow for Summer, make sure that you are up to date on all the latest rules and regulations that your local salon has in place for their customers. Following these rules will ensure that you gain your tan, while keeping yourself safe!