There are a number of tanning bed lamps in every sun bed on the market. When you are getting a new, or especially a used or older tanning bed, make a good examination of the bulbs. Make sure that they are proper tanning lamps and comply with the FDA regulations with regard to health and safety. You should also estimate how difficult it is to get at the lamps. Be sure that the bulbs are not difficult to change when the time comes. It is quite important, and a lot cheaper, if you can perform such routine maintenance yourself, if you buy a home tanning bed.
There are two completely different kinds of bulbs used in conventional and high pressure beds. Ensure you get the right tanning bed lamps for your sun bed, because you cannot use any bulbs you like. If you are purchasing replacement bulbs on the Internet, check the make and model of your existing lamps carefully. Make sure that the bulbs you are ordering are made for your bed.
High Pressure Tanning Bulbs: high pressure beds have quartz-tube lamps in a multitude of sizes. The gases used in these bulbs are pressurized to slightly higher than atmospheric pressure. The lamps in these beds are located in the hood of the bed, so that you tan only from above. When you have tanned the skin on one side of your body for about 10-12 minutes, you turn over and tan the other side. The flat bed of these devices is a great deal more comfortable than a regular tanning bed.
The biggest benefit of these lamps is the amount of time you have to spend on the sun bed. Because you tan more quickly, you need to spend less time in the salon, which means it works out cheaper. You can achieve the depth of tan you require in about three weeks of three to five sessions a week. However, with a conventional bed, it would take you at least a month to achieve the same level of colour. Maintaining your tan is much easier too. You only need two or three sessions a month to maintain the colour, compared with four times that many sessions on a conventional bed. Many of these bulbs produce UVA rays only, not UVB rays which cause burning.
Conventional Sun Bed Bulbs: Conventional, or low pressure beds use long tube lamps that resemble household fluorescent tubes. The lamps are situated above and below the bed of the sun bed, which means that all the body parts are tanned at the same time, without the need to change positions during the session.
Low pressure beds use UVA and UVB rays in varying levels. Some use both and others use mostly UVA with a bit of UVB rays. UVA rays are the cause of the (premature) ageing effects on the skin and UVB rays are the burning rays that produce sunburn when you are outside in the sun. It is very important to determine which type of rays your tan bed emits. You must be sure to replace your existing bulbs with comparable new lamps after about 1,000 hours of use.
Something else to think about when selecting the type of bed you use at home or in the salon, is the tanning bed lotion you will use. Different lotions suit different sorts of beds. The owner of your tanning salon will be able to help you select a lotion that will be best for the bed you are using and your skin type. Regardless of the bed you use, you ought to certainly always use a lotion or a cream, because they will nourish your skin and help you get a Hollywood tan more quickly.
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