The market offers many brands and types of tanning lotions, but not all are alike. Some tanning lotions are designed specifically to enhance your tanning bed experience. Tanning beds have been popular for years. They allow you to tan easily without exposure to the sun's harmful rays. But tanning beds can be harmful too. After years of using a tanning bed, your skin can age prematurely, and you might even develop skin cancer if you don't use a tanning bed lotion to protect your skin.

Why Use a Tanning Bed Lotion?

Protective tan lotion can help you enjoy a beautiful tan without overexposure to the tanning bed's UVA light. While the sun gives off two types of light, UVA and UVB, a tanning bed emits mainly UVA light. UVA radiation is less likely to cause sunburn, but can still be dangerous. UVA light penetrates the skin more deeply than UVB light, but using a tanning lotion that's made specifically for tanning beds will protect your skin from burning or damage.

Benefits of Tanning Bed Lotions

Besides offering protection for your skin, tanning lotions offer many other benefits such as providing a more even, longer-lasting tan that glows beautifully. Many tanning bed lotions contain ingredients that enhance skin health. Tyrosine is an ingredient that allows your skin to tan better and faster by stimulating melanin, a skin pigment that causes your skin to turn a lovely golden color. Vitamin E can help prevent premature aging of the skin. Copper helps reduce blemishes and scars. Aloe Vera is a natural moisturizer often found in tanning bed lotions.

Keep in mind that some tan lotions are for use after tanning only. Read labels carefully and choose lotion that's labeled "tan accelerator" before tanning. This type of lotion usually contains the ingredient tyrosine. After tanning, use an "after tan" lotion to moisturize and replenish vitamins in your skin if needed. It's a good idea to keep both types of lotions on-hand if you frequent tanning beds.

Tan Lotion and Skin Type

Different skin types can also make a difference in the type of tan lotion you should use. Some skin types, such as dark, easy-to-tan skin are less affected by the tanning bed's rays while fair skin types can be easily burned and damaged. Thankfully, there are tanning lotions to produce a darker tan, protect your skin, and help you avoid premature aging. But which should you choose? Tanning bed lotions are often marked in tones from I to V. Tones I and II are recommended for fair skin or for skin that doesn't tan well. For skin that tans very easily, type III or IV are best.

How to Buy Tanning Lotion

When shopping for tanning lotion, be sure to choose the right lotion for your skin type and for the type of tan and protection needed. Every person is different, so don't use lotions based on what your friends use. Shop around online to find affordable designer skin tanning lotion. You can often find cheap tan lotion online without sacrificing quality. When buying discount tan lotion, be sure to read all the ingredients and buy from a reputable Web store.

Tanning beds can provide an affordable, safe alternative to tanning in the sun if you choose the right tanning lotion. Use tan lotion to enhance your tanned skin and keep it looking healthy for years to come.