Vacation Tan

Base Tanning

Acquiring a base tan from an indoor tanning salon before heading off for your tropical vacation is the source of much debate. Some claim that an indoor tan doesn't protect at all against natural sunlight because of the high-pressure UVA bulbs used; while others claim pre-tanning helps you build-up a natural sunscreen or natural SPF.

Personally I use professional indoor tanning salons. I begin visiting an indoor tanning salon 2 months before I head off to tropical climates. I do this because the tanning salon allows me to control the level of UV exposure, thereby controlling the rate of which I allow my tan to develop. I've learned from past experiences that a base tan, coupled with a quality sunscreen or sunblock, decreases my chance of getting sunburned.

I should mention, the one thing I do look for in a tanning salon is that they use low-pressure beds that mimic natural sunlight, with a UV ratio of 94% UVA to 6% UVB. I figure keep it as natural as possible.

At the end of the day it's a personal choice; you know your skin better than anyone. If you feel a base tan helps to increase your UV tolerance then that may be the best course of action. Just use tanning beds responsibly and remember, the worst thing you can do is get a sunburn - that's when the real skin damage occurs.