US Trends

how often should you tan in a tanning bed

You should tan in a tanning bed as little as possible, and many dermatology groups recommend avoiding them altogether because any indoor tanning increases your risk of skin cancer and premature aging. If you still choose to tan, most salon and industry guides suggest staying around 2–3 short sessions per week at most, with rest days in between and careful attention to how your skin reacts.

How Often Should You Tan in a Tanning Bed? (Quick Scoop)

Indoor tanning is never “safe,” but there are safer ways to limit damage if you decide to do it anyway.

First: A Big Safety Reality Check

  • Indoor tanning beds emit concentrated UV radiation that directly increases your risk of melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma.
  • Many health authorities and dermatologists advise completely avoiding tanning beds, especially if you have very fair skin, a history of sunburns, or a family history of skin cancer.
  • Skin type I (very pale, always burns, rarely tans) is often listed as “not recommended” for indoor tanning at all.
  • If you notice redness, burning, peeling, or hot spots after a session, that’s a sign you’re tanning too much and harming your skin barrier, not “getting color.”

If you’re under 18, pregnant, on photosensitizing meds (certain antibiotics, acne meds, antidepressants, etc.), or have had skin cancer, the safest answer is: skip tanning beds entirely and talk to a doctor.

Typical “Safe-ER” Frequency Guidelines

These are common ranges you’ll see from salons and tanning manufacturers—not a health endorsement, just what’s usually recommended when people insist on tanning.

For Beginners

  • Start with about 1–2 tanning sessions per week , very short (around 3–10 minutes depending on your skin type and the bed).
  • Make sure you have at least 48 hours between sessions so your skin can recover.
  • Many guides say you can build a “base tan” with 2–3 sessions per week for a few weeks, gradually increasing time if you’re not burning.

Building and Maintaining a Tan

  • Base tan: often 2–3 sessions per week (with rest days between) are used to deepen color, again only if your skin does not burn.
  • Maintenance: once you reach the color you want, many schedules drop to 1–2 sessions per week or one session every 5–7 days.
  • Some high-pressure beds (more UVA, less UVB) are marketed for 2–4 shorter sessions per week , but total UV exposure and skin response still matter.

Simple Rule of Thumb

  • Absolute upper limit most non-medical guides talk about: no more than 2–3 sessions per week, never two days in a row , and stop or cut back if you see any redness or irritation.

How Often by Skin Type (Very Rough)

Everyone is different, but industry guides often use Fitzpatrick skin types.

  • Type I (very fair, always burns, never tans): Tanning bed use is usually not recommended at all.
  • Type II (fair, burns easily, tans lightly): Around 1–2 sessions per week , very short times, watching closely for any redness.
  • Type III (light–medium, sometimes burns, tans gradually): Often 2–3 sessions per week to build a tan, then 1–2 per week to maintain.
  • Darker types (IV–VI): Can handle more UV without burning, but still accumulate DNA damage and risk hyperpigmentation; frequency guides still keep to about 2–3 sessions per week max with rest days.

If a salon pushes you to tan daily or multiple days in a row, that’s a red flag.

How Long Should Each Session Be?

Most guides pair frequency with session length caps.

  • Beginners: 5–10 minutes per session depending on skin type and bed strength.
  • Intermediate/regular users: 10–15 minutes max in conventional beds.
  • High-pressure beds: often 8–12 minutes , as they use mostly UVA.
  • Never exceed the maximum exposure time posted on the bed’s label.

Think of it this way: a shorter session at a reasonable interval is safer than cramming too much UV into one long blast.

Signs You’re Tanning Too Often

Cut back or stop tanning if you notice:

  • Redness that lasts more than a few hours
  • Peeling or blistering
  • Skin that feels hot, tight, or itchy
  • New or changing moles, dark spots, or rough patches
  • Skin looking suddenly more lined, leathery, or dry

If you see new or changing moles or spots , get them checked by a dermatologist as soon as you can.

What People Say in Forums (Real-World Habits)

In forum discussions, you’ll see a range of personal routines:

  • Some people tan once a week and feel it helps mood or “SAD” in winter, even while acknowledging the risks.
  • Others report 2–3 times per week during the first month, then dropping to once weekly for maintenance.
  • Skin-care communities often push back, stressing that even “moderate” tanning is still accelerating aging and raising cancer risk compared to not tanning.

The common theme: people who regret tanning usually talk about long-term damage (wrinkles, dark spots, skin cancer scares), not how dark they were in their twenties.

Safer Alternatives & Practical Tips

If you’re mainly after the look of a tan, these options don’t blast your skin with UV:

  • Sunless tanning (self-tanners, sprays): Provide color without UV; often recommended by skin-care experts as the safest way to “tan.”
  • Bronzing lotions and makeup: Temporary color that washes off.
  • If you still use beds:
    • Always wear proper eye protection.
* Keep 48+ hours between sessions.

* Moisturize and avoid tanning on irritated or sunburned skin.

* Tell staff about your skin type, medications, and history so they can set conservative times.

SEO Bits (Meta Description)

Meta description:
Wondering how often you should tan in a tanning bed? Learn realistic frequency guidelines, beginner schedules, skin-type tips, risks, and safer alternatives to indoor tanning in 2026.

TL;DR: If you choose to use a tanning bed, keep it to about 2–3 short sessions per week max, with at least a day off in between, and 1–2 per week or less for maintenance —and know that the truly safest schedule for your skin and long-term health is not using tanning beds at all.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.