Sunbeds and Vitamin D: The Honest Picture
UVB, vitamin D and a lot of myths. Here's the honest picture — what's true, what isn't, and why we're always straight about what a sunbed is for.
6 min readReviewed 24 July 2026
You'll hear it said that sunbeds 'top up your vitamin D', sometimes as if that's a reason to tan. It's one of those claims with a grain of truth wrapped in a lot of misunderstanding — and because it touches on health, we think it deserves a straight, honest answer rather than a sales pitch.
So here's the real picture: where the vitamin D idea comes from, what can and can't honestly be claimed, and why we're clear that a sunbed is for a cosmetic tan — not a health treatment.
Where the vitamin D idea comes from
There's a genuine bit of science underneath it. When UVB light reaches your skin, it triggers a process that helps your body make vitamin D — which is why sensible sun exposure in summer is one natural source of it. Our beds do emit a balanced UVA and UVB spectrum, so the mechanism isn't imaginary.
But 'the mechanism exists' is a long way from 'sunbeds are a good way to get vitamin D'. The two things get blurred together, and that's where the myth takes hold. The honest position is more careful than the headline.
What can and can't honestly be claimed
Here's where we'll be straight with you: health bodies, including the NHS, do not recommend sunbeds as a way to get vitamin D. The recognised advice for vitamin D is a balanced diet and, especially through the UK's darker months, a supplement — not UV exposure, which carries its own risks that outweigh it for this purpose.
So we don't market our beds as a health or vitamin D treatment, and you should be wary of anyone who does. If you're worried about your vitamin D levels, that's a conversation for your GP or pharmacist, who can advise properly and, if needed, test for it. That's the responsible answer, even if it's not the flashy one.
Why we tan for colour, responsibly
What a sunbed is genuinely good at is a cosmetic tan — colour and a bit of confidence — done sensibly, in moderation, paced to your skin. That's what we offer, honestly and well: premium maintained beds, sessions set to your skin type, and straight advice about the real risks of UV.
Framing tanning as 'healthy' tends to encourage people to overdo it, which is exactly what we don't want. We'd far rather you saw a sunbed for what it is — a way to get a tan you enjoy, used carefully — than as a wellness shortcut it was never meant to be.
The sensible bottom line
Yes, UVB can help your skin make vitamin D — but no, that's not a good reason to use a sunbed, and it's not how the NHS suggests you get it. Use a sunbed for a cosmetic tan, used in moderation, and get your vitamin D from food, sensible summer sunlight and a supplement if advised.
As always, sunbeds are 18+ by law, and they don't suit everyone — very fair skin, lots of moles, certain conditions or medications mean sitting it out or checking first. If you're ever unsure, ask us in Corby or Kettering, or speak to your GP. Honest answers are part of the service.