A lot of people feel good with a tan and think that it improves their appearance. So what are your options? You can get a tan in three different ways: outside in the sun; by using a bronzing creams or lotions; or by sunbathing under a tanning bed.

One of the benefits of using a tanning bed is that it does not matter what the weather is doing outside - sun-bathing outside rarely being an agreeable thing to do in winter. Another positive thing is that using a tanning bed means that you can time the amount of exposure you are getting - tanning beds are no different from the sun when it comes to giving off damaging rays.

Anyone who elects to use a tanning bed needs to be aware of all the safety issues. For a start, do not believe that it is completely safe, like some unscrupulous advertisers might suggest. Know the facts and you can look after yourself.

The reason that is often given for the safety of artificial tanning devices is that they use a healthier form or Ultra Violet (UV) light. There is a basis in truth here, but it is not the full story. UV light comes in two varieties UV-A and UV-B - natural sunlight has them both. Early sunning machines used the UV-B rays which caused easy burning, but all have now switched to UV-A. Human skin, when exposed to these rays is less likely to burn, but this doesn't mean that it is 100% safe - you still need to limit your exposure time.

Watch out for any suggestion that the beds are so safe that tanning goggles are unnecessary. Even UVa light is damaging to our eyes, so you should insist on goggles every time. You cannot substitute for the goggles by closing your eyes, using standard sunglasses, or by placing rounds of cotton wool over your eyelids. The Food and Drug Administration requires tanning centers to use goggles, so you are best advised not to use one that does not insist on this.

Another question to ask yourself is whether you want to have a tan all year? Using tanning beds on a regular basis will mean that your skin will age prematurely. This is something to consider - how about, rather than tanning the whole year-round, restricting yourself to the summer months? This is especially appealing if you live in a country that has its own seasons and where you will be covered up in the winter months - but hey, it's up to you!

If you have kids then you need to be especially cautious on their behalf. When a child's skin is burned the skin is more deeply effected, according to scientific research. This research was based on UVb studies, yet those in the know strongly advise care when using sun beds. At the end of the day, you might decide that it is not worth the risk simply so a child can have a bit of a tan.

A medical opinion should probably be sought before using tanning beds. This is because some conditions - diabetes, lupus and herpes simplex (cold sores) - are made worse by sun bed use. On top of this you need to be cautious because some medication makes skin more susceptible to artificial tanning rays - the list includes certain types of birth control pills, anti-histamines and tranquilizers. So talk to your doctor.

If you want a tan badly enough, then go ahead and use an artificial tan bed. Taking note of the guidance and warnings above can help make it as safe as possible to get that desired tan.

Copyright 2006 Anndrea Jenkin. All rights reserved. Anndrea Jenkin owns UVA Tanning Bed - a popular website on tanning issues. Visit her archive of articles at: http://www.uvatanningbed.com/articles/