Sunbed Safety & Aftercare, Done Properly
The grown-up guide: the law, the eyewear, who should sit it out, and how to look after your skin so your tan lasts and stays healthy.
7 min readReviewed 19 June 2026
Doing this properly means being honest about it. Sunbeds use UV, and UV carries real risk if it's misused — so the studios worth trusting are the ones that talk about safety openly rather than glossing over it. We'd rather you tanned for years sensibly than overdid it once.
Here's how we keep tanning safe at Tanners Lane, and how you can look after your skin so your colour lasts and stays healthy.
The law, and why we hold to it
In England, you must be 18 or over to use a sunbed — it's the law under the Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010, and we'll ask for proof of age on a first visit, every time, without exception. The same Act is why staffed, regulated studios exist rather than unsupervised coin-op machines.
That regulation is a good thing, and we lean into it: maintained equipment, trained staff, sensible session times and honest advice are the whole point of tanning somewhere properly run.
Protect your eyes, every time
Never tan with bare eyes. Closing them isn't enough, because UV passes straight through the eyelid — so protective goggles are worn for every single session. We provide them, sanitised, and we'll make sure they fit before you start.
It's a small thing that matters enormously, and it's non-negotiable with us. Your eyes don't get a second chance.
Who should sit a session out
Sunbeds don't suit everyone, and part of doing this responsibly is saying so. You should not use a sunbed if you're under 18, have very fair skin that always burns, have a lot of moles or a personal or family history of skin cancer, or have a skin condition made worse by UV.
Some medications — including certain antibiotics, acne treatments and others — increase your skin's sensitivity to light. If you're on medication, pregnant, or simply unsure, check with your GP or pharmacist before tanning. When the answer should be no, we'll say no.
- Under 18 — not permitted by law
- Very fair skin that always burns (Type I)
- Lots of moles, or a personal/family history of skin cancer
- A skin condition aggravated by UV
- Taking medication that increases light sensitivity — check first
- Pregnant or unsure — speak to your GP or pharmacist
Aftercare that makes your tan last
Hydrated skin holds colour. Drink water, and moisturise well the evening of your session and over the following days — well-nourished skin sheds more slowly and keeps your tan even for longer. A gentle exfoliation before your next session then keeps the canvas smooth.
Give your skin recovery time between visits, and read the signs: tightness, pinkness or warmth all mean ease back and leave it longer. Looking after your skin between sessions does as much for your tan as the sessions themselves.
How we keep it spotless
Every room is sanitised before every visit and our lamps are maintained to keep their output consistent and predictable — cleanliness and condition you can see and feel the moment you walk in. It's the standard a dedicated, sunbeds-only studio can hold that a general salon often can't.
If you ever have a question about safety, your skin or a session, just ask the team in Corby or Kettering. Honest answers are part of the service.