Tanning Bed Lamps

History is rife with instances of men and women submitting themselves through hair-raising ordeals and even embracing the black arts in their quest for youth and beauty. While the legendary beauty, Cleopatra, soaked in donkey's milk to have more beautiful and younger-looking skin, we, her able minions, have not restricted ourselves to the mere use of lotions and home-grown potions. Our insatiable desire for lasting good looks have made us dabble in collagen, silicone, and, most important of all, the tan.

What's beauty without a good tan?

No matter how attractive your features might be, a pasty, unhealthy complexion can ruin it all. If asked to choose between a pale Conan O'Brian and a tanned George Hamilton, chances are most will prefer the latter's tanned, healthy appearance, that owes much of its charm to his glorious tan.

The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it&

Almost-too-gorgeous-to-be-true celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Brittney Spears, Bo Derek, Brad Pitt, and Robbie Williams have sported and made the sun-bronzed look the preferred choice of the beau monde as well as the masses. However, in this jet-setting age where life unfolds in fast forward, very few people can spend long, torturous hours under the sun to get a tan. But then who needs the sun when we have that marvelous invention, the tanning bed lamp?

The tanning experience

Most tanning bed lamps are designed for a unique blend of UVA and UVB tanning rays to achieve a deeper and longer-lasting tan. Many tanning beds have facial tanning lamps to enhance tanning on the face. These lamps use the distinctive blue cover plate that filters out most UVB light, making it gentle on the soft facial tissues.

• UVA is the longer ultra-violet wave which darkens the pigment and actually does the tanning. It's the least harmful UV light because it has the least energy.
• UVB is the medium ultra-violet wave that shorter than UVA. It stimulates the skin to produce melanin, which aids in tanning. Too much of UVB can cause sunburn.

Some tanning bed lamps feature a built-in reflector, which forces the UV light to travel on a straight path and focus directly on the skin's surface during the tanning session, resulting in a faster and enduring tan.

Too much of a good thing

• Prolonged and very frequent exposure to tanning bed lamps can cause sunburn, wrinkles, and toughening of the skin.
• Never expose your eyes to tanning bed lamps. Use sterilized, snug-fitting safety goggles at all times.
• If you are undergoing treatment for lupus or diabetes, or are susceptible to cold sores, seek medical advice before exposure to tanning bed lamps.