The thing about topics like these is that everything people say is true to a certain extent. For people who almost never see the natural light of day indoor tanning can be a replacement for the benefits of the natural sun, including getting a little color. Staying out of the sun for the purpose of tanning is still the healthiest option, but avoiding UV rays out of fear of cancer isn’t exactly healthy either.

You can take dietary supplements for vitamin E and melatonin to sleep, but everyone needs SOME light, even if it’s from a machine. For some people with skin conditions (like acne and eczema) a very small amount of indoor tanning can keep them off other medications that may do them more harm than good. However, tanning while taking certain medications (like certain birth control pills, which increase your chances of cancer anyway) can greatly increase your likelihood of developing cancer early in life.

If you do decide to tan indoors – or outdoors, using a lotion is very important. It doesn’t have to be a lotion marketed for tanning, however. Lotion moisturizes your skin and helps your skin stay healthier and replenish the vitamins it needs to function. Indoors, an SPF defeats the purpose of tanning and can make cleaning the bed difficult; don’t use them. Mineral oil will harm acrylics, as well as your skin, so avoid lotions with that ingredient. Think bare-bones moisture, water based, and little or no alcohol in the lotion; and read the ingredients not just the label. All high-quality indoor tanning lotions sport these characteristics, but many have additives to increase their market value to indoor tanners. Any “accelerator” tanning lotion will have a lot of good vitamins and oils in it, but they are costly and will likely have additives like copper and dyes as well either cosmetic or natural “bronzers.” Cosmetic bronzers wash off and will stain your clothes, lighter colors of hair, and nails. Natural bronzers are usually intended to increase the oxidation levels in your skin, theoretically allowing melanin production to take place faster, or could refer to a plant-based acid. Dihydroxyacetone is the most common natural bronzer used and is a plant derived acid. This is the colorant used to even out skin tone, which a previous commentor mentioned. Although natural bronzers typically do not induce any allergic reactions, if you have ever had an allergic reaction to a colorant or dye I would suggest avoiding these altogether.

Indoor tanning can theoretically be better for you than outdoor tanning IF, and I really stress IF, you don’t overdo it. If you want the look of a tan without all the sun, 8-9 minutes in a “high pressure” UVA bed will get you there in one shot; quickly and without a burn since there is less than 1% UVB. That would take up to 9 sessions in a UVA/UVB mixed bed totaling a minimum of 120 minutes for a light tan. Very few people want to shell out the extra money for a higher quality bed, but the time spent exposing your skin to UV rays can actually turn out to be less than if you didn’t tan indoors at all and sat out in the sun. You won’t get that Oompa-Loompa look using a plain moisturizer and rarely tanning, but if that’s what you’re after then yeah – skin cancer and wrinkle city is your future. Enjoy it.

(By the way, I read the primary study on tanning beds – yes the WHOLE thing, not just the findings, and the sample base they used was interesting. The ones who got cancer and aged skin were the ones who tanned daily or up to 4 times per week and some of their weekly minute totals were in the 100s. I do tan, and I don’t reach that in months! The ones who got cancer in their 20s or 30s were also ones who spent time outdoors as well as tanned indoors; some even had accounts at multiple tanning salons so they could go the maximum time every day or less than 24 hours after their last tan. So, if you want to compare smoking to tanning that would be the 3 pack a day smoker. Folks like me maybe have a cigarette once per month and they never finish the blamed thing. And no, I’m not in the tanning industry – I’m a professional editor who does fact-checking and market research copy.)