Men and Tanning Beds


by Leanne Williams - Date: 2006-12-05 - Word Count: 529 Share This!

It is becoming increasingly popular - and socially acceptable - for men to take an interest in their personal grooming and in making the most of their appearance. Consequently 29 percent of tanning bed users are now male. For many men, indoor tanning is appealing because they feel a tan gives them a healthy and attractive color. It is also used by some men as a way of controlling skin conditions such as acne or psoriasis, although there is some disagreement among dermatologists as to whether tanning beds are truly beneficial for skin conditions.

Many men considering making their first trip to a salon and using a tanning bed are worried about what they should wear while tanning. Most men are too embarrassed to ask whether (and how) they should cover their penis to avoid burning this delicate area. A lot of male tanning bed patrons prefer to be completely nude, to avoid tan lines. If you are a novice, however, you should definitely adhere to the general advice to limit your early sessions to around 5 minutes, until you have built up a base tan, to avoid burning the penis and testicles. Some men prefer to cover their penis with a sock or wear a pair of speedos, a thong or running shorts.

Before you make your first visit to a tanning salon you should also read up on the general advice given to tanning bed users. This includes covering your eyes with protective goggles at all times. Exposure to UVA and UVB rays through indoor tanning has been linked to an increased risk of cataracts and more serious eye conditions such as cancer of the retina.

You should consider investing in a tanning lotion and apply it 1-2 hours before your tanning session. Tanning lotions help you achieve a deeper, more satisfying tan much more quickly. This is mostly due to the active ingredient, Tyrosine, which stimulates the production of melanin. Tanning lotion is also beneficial because of its moisturising properties, which is important for two reasons. Firstly, dry skin reflects UV rays and can reduce the effectiveness of the tanning bed by up to 50 percent. Secondly, moisturised skin reduces flaking and promotes a longer lasting tan. There are also ingredients which counteract the effect UV rays have on premature ageing, for instance Vitamin E which has antioxidant properties and reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.

In regards to timing your sun bed sessions, a novice user should not go on for more than 5 minutes for their first few visits, and should frequent the tanning salon no more than 3 times a week. This is particularly important for people who are naturally very fair skinned or who burn easily. As you build up your tan, this can be gradually increased to around half an hour with sessions 3 to 5 times a week. Once you have achieved a tan you are satisfied with, reduce the number of sessions to once or twice a week - just frequently enough to maintain your tan.

If you are unsure about tanning bed use or how to decrease the associated risks, the staff at your tanning salon will be very happy to answer your queries.


Related Tags: tanning beds, indoor tanning, sunless tanning

Leanne has had several articles published on the subject of cosmetic surgery, including what to expect at a rhinoplasty consultation.

http://www.rhinoplasty.about-beauty.net Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles

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