Tanning bed lotion, sunless tanner and sunscreen are not interchangeable: one can condition skin during tanning, another can add color without UV exposure, and sunscreen protects against UV rays. Read the intended use, application directions and sunscreen information on your bottle. If the label says the product contains no sunscreen, treat it as a cosmetic, not protection for time in the sun.12

What does tanning lotion do?

Some tanning products moisturize or condition skin while you tan; others give skin the appearance of a tan by adding cosmetic color. The phrase "tanning lotion" covers different cosmetic jobs, so the name is doing less work than it sounds. Neither job tells you whether the bottle provides sun protection. Products sold for beach use and products sold for tanning salons both need their sunscreen labeling checked.1

Can you use tanning bed lotion in the sun?

Wearing a cosmetic tanning lotion outside is different from using it to sunbathe. A lotion without sunscreen does not make deliberate sun exposure safer. Repeated unprotected exposure while tanning can increase skin aging and skin cancer risk even when you do not burn. Do not use the absence of redness as a reason to stay out longer.1

How do you use tanning lotion?

  1. 1Read the tanning lotion's directions first. Use it only as directed; a tanning salon product name is not an outdoor application instruction.
  2. 2Before going outside, apply broad spectrum, water resistant SPF 30 or higher sunscreen to dry, exposed skin. Allow at least 15 minutes before going outdoors.
  3. 3Use enough sunscreen for coverage. Most adults need at least about 1 ounce for skin not covered by clothing. Include your ears, neck and the tops of your feet.
  4. 4Reapply sunscreen approximately every two hours outdoors, and after swimming or sweating, following the bottle's directions.
  5. 5Use shade and protective clothing as well. Sunscreen alone cannot fully protect your skin.
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If your lotion is a sunless tanner containing dihydroxyacetone, or DHA, it darkens dead cells at the skin's surface and the color usually lasts several days. A sunless tanner creates cosmetic color without UV exposure, leaving the sun with no part in the production. Follow the label carefully and keep the product out of your eyes, nose and mouth. DHA should not be inhaled or swallowed, or applied to the lips or around the eyes.13

Is tanning good for you?

UV tanning damages skin, whether the UV comes from sunlight or a tanning bed. UV light is the main cause of melanoma, a skin cancer that can spread to other parts of the body. If you want the appearance of a tan, choose a sunless tanning product instead of deliberate UV exposure, and continue using sunscreen outdoors.24

Who needs extra caution?

Melanoma risk is higher with skin that burns easily, many freckles or moles, repeated sunburn, frequent sunbed use, or a personal or family history of skin cancer. Black or brown skin can also develop melanoma. Some medicines increase sensitivity to UV rays; ask your doctor or pharmacist whether yours does, and avoid tanning beds if you take such medicines. Sunburn can take 6 to 48 hours to develop, so damage is not always immediately visible.35

Where this answer comes from

  1. 1Required Warning Statement for Tanning Products Without Sunscreenfda.gov
  2. 2Sunscreen FAQsaad.org
  3. 3Tanning Productsfda.gov
  4. 4What is melanoma skin cancer - NHSnhs.uk
  5. 5Causes of melanoma skin cancer - NHSnhs.uk