Pregnant women should not risk taking part in activities that raise their body temperature significantly. Health professionals are mainly concerned, especially during the first trimester of a pregnancy, that the risks are higher for both the mother and the unborn child if their bodies overheat. That means pregnant women are advised to avoid long hot steamy baths, saunas, steam rooms, hot tubs, and yes, tanning beds, because it does get really hot inside one, especially in the last few minutes of the session.

Studies have also shown that women have more sensitive skin when they’re pregnant because of the influx of hormones. And it is not advisable for people with sensitive skin to be regularly exposed to the UV rays of a tanning bed.

If tanning, however, has become such an integral part of your routine that not even a pregnancy could stop you, you should at least take some steps that would put you and your unborn child at lesser risk. One is that pregnant women can opt for limited sessions so as not to significantly raise their body temperatures. They can also reduce the risk of stopping the blood flow by doing their tanning sessions on their sides. They can also choose to go for upright tanning beds, which leave them with a bit more room to stretch. The liberal application of lotion on skin areas which they deem sensitive is also advisable.

But when it comes to sunburns, the people whose pictures appear below apparently have had it worse. Collected from all over the Internet, these pictures are pretty good illustrations of what could happen to any one of us if we stay too long in the sun, don’t use the right sunscreen or use any sunscreen at all.

Some pics may seem gross for some, so beware.

Image sources

Lemonzoo Guzer DangerousSunburn CollegeHumor BestPicEver TravelBlog RhodesNet VisualDxHealth Figen ClintMclean MIT InternetCrime DermNetNZ

1. Pet Tanning Beds

This tanning bed is essentially designed to make your cats and dogs feel like its getting a lot of sun even when it’s the middle of winter. Just like humans do with a real tanning bed.

The only problem is that furry little animals don’t really need to tan, as they’re, uh, furry. A normal heater or better yet, a fireplace would have been more than enough to keep them warm.

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2. USB Desktop Tanning Center

Who says geeks who spend a third of their lives sitting in front of their computers don’t get any sun? Not anymore!

With the USB Desktop Tanning Center, they can now tan as much as they like while updating their blogs or playing games online, right in the comfort of their own world that is their cubicle.

Now if only they could make one that could tan the entire body as well…

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3. The Tan-Timer Bikini

Some British company had the brilliant idea of attaching a simple timer that beeps at 15 minute intervals to a simple bikini, and voila! We have the Tan-Timer Bikini, which is designed to remind you to turn over while tanning so you don’t get sunburned too much, or worse, fall asleep under a high noon sun.

And the manufacturers are thinking about making one for guys too! Now where do you reckon a timer would go on skimpy swimming trunks?

Source

4. The Squid Face Pillow

Say goodbye to strained necks and uneven tans while tanning your back with the Squid Face Pillow!

The Squid Face Pillow allows you to lie on your stomach with your face comfortably pointed straight at the ground. You can also breathe normally while in this position with its patented air flow ports.

Sounds comfy, but you know what’s weird about this product? The goofy name. Seriously, it looks less like a squid than that red ribbon which symbolizes solidarity with HIV-positive people, only yellow and uncrossed, and has its own patented air flow. Or an upside-down head of a rabbit, if you will.

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5. Stencil to Tan Name or Initials on Bathers’ Skin

Who needs tattoos to etch initials or names on skin when there’s a natural way to get it done?

In the 1920s, some genius came up with the idea of holding or taping stencils, in which names or initials are cut, on skin. They spend some time under the sun, and the sun burns the names onto the skin. Now that’s one good way of etching your partner’s name on your butt minus the pain brought about by needles.

source

6. Inflatable Private Island

Crowded beach? No problem. You can now have your own Inflatable Private Island, an 8′ x 8′ platform where up to eight people can tan the whole day long, right there on the surface of the water. It has a towing strap that could be tied to an anchor to hold it in place. The problem: no anchor included, and tying this thing to rocks or boardwalk posts isn’t really an option, so you better know someone who has a real anchor or better yet, a boat, before buying this product, lest you want go drifting off into the open sea. But then again, if you have a friend who has a boat or a yacht, why bother with an inflatable island in the first place?

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7. Lawn NéoSunMore

Our friends at French company NéoSun have obliged us with the Lawn NéoSunMore, a stylish lounge which rotates 360 degrees through its armrests, without the slightest effort, and defies the movements of the sun for an even tan.

Now we’ll know what being on a microwave oven’s rotating tray is like.

Source Product Page (In French)

8. Sunblock for Nails

Who would have thought our nails need sunblock while we tan?

A company called Qnc Labs think we do, and is pushing a product creatively named “Sunblock for Nails”.

This sort of sunblock can be brushed on like nail polish to protect our fingernails from UV rays. Never mind that fingernails don’t really get sunburned, as they are primarily made up of dead and hardened keratin cells. And the company’s contention that UV light can cause nails to yellow is pretty lame.

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9. The Orbitan Swinging Tanning Lamp

Here’s another blast from the past: In the late 1940’s, the Waco Aircraft Company launched a product called Orbitan, which is essentially a sun lamp with a moving bulb. It purportedly gives the user an even tan by swinging back and forth a standard 275-watt ultraviolet bulb in a straight, level path as long as six feet. People no longer have to move themselves or the lamp to another position. Even in the 1940s, people were already too lazy enough to do something as simple as moving their bodies or moving a lamp to get a nice tan.

source

10. The Manhood

This one is just so hilarious that we just have to have its picture and the product page pitch speak for itself:

An ergonomically designed product to fit above and over the male genital area. Our product is clean, safe, disposable and results with no tan line. Made from hydrophobic Ultra-Violet resistant material designed to reflect UV rays. These protectors are individually wrapped in quantities of 50 for you to display, or you may wish to purchase an attractive “Manhood” acrylic display.

A male genitalia tanning protector, ergonomically designed for anatomically fitting about the male genitalia for protecting the sensitive body parts from harmful UV rays and from tanning topical solutions during tanning. The male genitalia tanning protector comprises a material blank having a first piece and a second piece of fabricated from a tear resistant, hydrophobic, Ultra-Violet resistant material and joined together defining a pouch. A male genitalia receiving opening is centrally located on the material blank with an elastic member disposed there about. the pouch is self supporting and has a shape suitable for protectively reflection and refracting Ultra-Violet rays away from the male genitalia.

Priceless.

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You can always opt to buy an existing tanning salon business. This is probably easier and less expensive, but then again, you’re bound to make some upgrades to the salon and still end up spending quite an investment on it.

The other option, of course, is to start from scratch. And when you do, make sure that you put the business up in a location that is accessible to your target market.

Then there’s checking out the competition, if any, in the area where you want to put up your tanning salon business. See if the same types of services that you’re planning to offer are also being offered in those salons, then think up possible services that would give you the advantage over the competition. Remember that the tanning salon business is all about catering to the needs of your customers. On top of the sophisticated tanning beds and tanning lotions that you’re expected to offer them, personalized services can make your customers feel good and definitely want to come back for more.

Starting from scratch, however, could involve a significant investment. So it is always wise to draft a realistic budget plan for any equipment acquisitions, and keep overhead costs to a minimum. Check out the rates for services at other tanning salons to help you make your pricing competitive and at the same time turn out a profit for you. And if your services are first rate, the location is very convenient, and your equipment is much better than those of the competition, charging more for them won’t be too much to ask.

You should also keep in mind that the tanning salon business is also seasonal, so it is important to be prepared for the fall and winter, when business is expected to be slow. Save up on some of the funds you’ve gotten during the peak seasons, and you can continue to operate even during times when business is down.

Most importantly. make sure that you service consistently remains at a very high level. Clients would love nothing more than tanning equipment that work perfectly fine, with safety precautions in place, tanning sessions that are right on schedule, and personalized service from your staff that would make them know they are respected and cared for each time they come in.

Unfortunately, many people who love getting bronzed tend to neglect the necessary precautions when tanning. Sure, perfectly tanned skin is indeed quite gorgeous, but a sunburn isn’t. That is exactly what people who stay too long under the sun get. While the sun does provide certain health benefits, like the fact that it helps us get much-needed Vitamin D, overexposure to its ultraviolet rays sun could result in a very raw and painful sunburn. And if the American Academy of Dermatology is to be believed, sunburns could eventually lead to skin cancer.

This is why when going out in the sun, getting all the protection you need should become automatic. Using sunscreen is a no-brainer, although just as essential is the wearing of protective clothing when going out in the sun. Fortunately, there are companies these days that manufacture just that.

One such company is CabanaLife, which makes some great sun protective clothing. CabanaLife elaborates on the concept of spf clothing, and in a very fashionable way at that. Its collection, which includes hats, coverups and sundresses, gives the wearer very stylish options for having some fun under the sun. What’s more, it has a range of sun protective clothing for children as well, so your children, who do have a tendency to stay and play too long under the sun, can still be very much protected from the sun’s harsh UV rays.

Staying out in the sun need not be a dangerous or painful experience, as long as you take the necessary precautions, follow whatever sun protection tips you can find, and have the common sense to realize that too much of anything, the sun included, could never be a good thing.

But if you’ve got some ink done on your skin, you’ve got to realize that direct sunlight isn’t exactly a tattoo’s greatest friend. However brilliant and/or colorful your tattoo is, the ultraviolet rays of the sun can cause the color in your tattoo, or the tattoo itself, to fade. The rays can essentially squeeze the life out of it. The same goes for tanning beds, which can even be more damaging to tattoos than the sun considering that its UV rays are much more concentrated.

However, all the adverse effects of UV rays on tattoos do not mean you’ll have to kiss your tanning days goodbye. Getting bronzed and inked are two passions that could still be indulged in together, as long as some precautionary measures are taken.

The most obvious step is to use sun block if you really need to get some sun. And if you’re going to stay in the sun for a much longer period than usual, it is recommended that you use a sun block with the highest SPF, and re-apply it as often as needed, especially over your tattoo that is exposed to sunlight. Covering the tattooed area with a piece of cloth also helps preserve the vibrancy of your body art.

But if you got your tattoo just a couple of days before, follow all tattoo aftercare tips outlined by your tattoo artist and at least wait until your skin heals before making any efforts at tanning. That could take anywhere between two weeks to three months, when a tattoo is generally considered to be totally healed. As long as your new tattoo hasn’t finished peeling and has yet to grow its first protective layer of skin, don’t go exposing it to UV rays. Doing the opposite could only damage your tattoo, because no amount of sun block is going to be enough to protect it from UV rays, especially if its going to be exposed for long periods of time.

Just follow these simple tips and you’ll have that gorgeous sun-kissed look and wonderful body art at the same time.

Many doctors say ultraviolet light from the sun or a tanning machine is dangerous because of the risks associated with skin cancer. But some health experts, such as Dr. Michael Holick of Boston University, disagree.

“I believe that Americans have gone overboard with their fear of the sun. I think that sensible exposure to sunlight is really important for your overall health and well-being,” says Holick.

The reason for the concern is vitamin D, essential for bone strength and other health needs, which our skin makes through exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

We need 1,000 units of vitamin D a day, but a glass of milk supplies only 100 units and a multivitamin only 400. So most people need the sun in order to avoid deficiency.

Sunscreens and tanning lotions can reduce vitamin D production

Now, new research has found that wearing sunscreen continuously can reduce the amount of vitamin D a person is able to make.

“We looked at individuals that always wore a sunscreen before they went outside. … And we found that, indeed at the end of the summer, they were deficient in vitamin D,” says Holick. “And so we have shown over and over again that adults, even if they’re on a multivitamin, and drinking milk, if they always wear sun protection, or avoid any direct sun exposure, they’re at high risk of developing vitamin D deficiency.”

Rooftop measurements of sunlight show that, for most people, getting enough sunlight exposure at this time of year is not easy, even for people who don’t regularly wear sunscreen. In the middle of the winter on a very sunny day in a city as far north as Boston, there’s not enough sunlight for people to get sufficient quantities of vitamin D.

The good news is that if you get enough sun during the rest of the year, it carries you through the winter, says Holick.

Or there are machines. In Holick’s lab he put young people in tanning machines and measured their bone density.

“Tanners had higher bone density on average than non-tanners,” says Holick.

Still, he cautions against the dangers of skin cancer and warns people not to go overboard. However, it is critical, he says, to realize the sun’s rays are not always our enemy.
© 2007 MSNBC Interactive

“It can be difficult trying to figure out which tanning lotion is right for you. Believe it or not; that’s a good thing! There are so many different tanning lotions on the market these days that there is something which is right for everyone, no matter what your skin tone or tanning habits. You just need to learn a few things about tanning lotion to know which of these many tanning lotion products might be the right one for you. Once you understand that there are different kinds of tanning lotions, you’ll be able to find the one that will give you the desired effects you are seeking to obtain.

The first thing to determine is why you are primarily seeking to use a tanning lotion. There are many different reasons that one might use a tanning lotion and chances are that you are looking for some combination of these reasons. Reasons that are common include a desire for faster tanning, an interest in continuing to tan after you have left the sun or salon and the use of safer tanning practices to protect your skin from damage by tanning. Figure out which of these is most important to you and you’ll be well on your way to choosing the right tanning lotion. For example, if you wish to use a tanning lotion primarily to continue tanning after you are no longer in the rays, you will want to use a tan extender lotion.

Some people are looking for a tanning lotion that will allow them to get that beautiful darkened tan without requiring them to go to the tanning salon at all. If this is the case, you are probably more interested in a sunless tanning lotion than in any of the other products that are on the market. In contrast, some people are seeking tanning lotion that will allow their tanning beds to give them the most even tan in the shortest amount of time. These people should choose a tanning lotion which matches the type of tanning bed that is being used. You should consult a professional who is working at the tanning salon to find out which tanning beds you are using and which products are recommended for use with those beds.

You will also need to take into account your own personal bodily characteristics. Most importantly, you will want to consider your skin tone. People need different types of tanning lotion based on the color of their skin and the likelihood of a burn. You will also want to consider your own preferences. In addition to standard tanning lotions, there are creams, gels and oils which can be used for tanning. You may have a preference between these depending on the dryness or oiliness of your skin. You may also find that you prefer certain brand names over others, something that you’ll know only be trying them out and seeing what you like.

Don’t forget that you need to look carefully at your products to make sure that you are using them correctly. Outdoor tanning lotions should only be used with natural sun whereas indoor tanning lotion should be used at salons. Once you have chosen your tanning lotion, read the instructions carefully and make sure to follow them closely. If you have any questions at all, consult a doctor or someone working at your tanning salon to make sure that your tanning lotion is helping you in just the right ways. “

Going to the tanning salon can be a lot of fun for both men and women. Many will view that a tan is a great way to look as though the skin has been kissed by the sun, and in just a matter of minutes. For those that are looking to enhance their current tans, they can do so at a tanning salon. Receiving a tan is a great way to darken up the skin, as well as even out skin tones that may vary all over the body.

Although going to a tanning salon can be a lot of fun, it is also important to take as much precaution when tanning as possible. This means that there should be tanning lotion that is placed in areas that protection is wanted, preferably all over the body. This is beneficial, as the tanning lotion will help to enhance the tanning experience. With so many tanning lotions that are popular on the market today, it comes as no surprise to many that there are tanning lotions on the market that are highly competitive against one another. One tanning lotion that is known to bring such beautiful and positive results time and again when tanning is the Paradigm tanning lotion.

The Paradigm tanning lotion is known to enhance the overall color of the tan. The uniqueness of the tanning lotion is that it will bring about the beauty of the tan, enhancing the glow of the skin even more. Paradigm is also known to have ingredients that intensify the tanning experience, as well as replenishing the skin with nutrients that it needs, creating a softer, healthier glow.

The prices of the Paradigm tanning lotion are also appealing to many that are looking for the lotion on the market. This is because the lotion is known to run around $70 a bottle, which is very affordable to other tanning lotions that are on the market. The retail price of this tanning lotion has been known to go for $160. Searching online will often be the most beneficial for locating a bottle of the Paradigm lotion, as it will typically be cheaper, and many of the other tanning lotion companies will want to have the competitive prices against such a fine product. As much, the tanning lotion can go a long way, which makes for an even better and affordable investment for all. It is also stated that the Paradigm tanning lotion is known to tingle, which is a wonderful sensation when applied all over the body, or in small amounts and in sections here and there. This often makes for a great means of tanning, all the while playing it quite safe for tanners.

Paradigm has truly made a name for itself in the tanning industry, and is sure to make even more waves in the future. The tanning lotion is sure to be a success on the market, as it has already made a wonderful name in many tanning salons that are featured all across the country. With Paradigm tanning lotion everyone can be just minutes away from a tanned body that radiated beauty.

Indoor tanning bed lotions have a unique blend of ingredients that are designed for salon use. They do not leave a greasy film and are meant to help you achieve that natural glow quickly and conveniently. These salon tanning lotions are marketed all over the internet and through wholesale retailers and specialty stores. You are able to choose the tint of bronze that you desire determined by your skin tone, and many of these products even provide a natural looking tan while blocking some UV rays.

Tanning lotions that are made for home or commercial indoor tanning are very convenient and easy to use. If the user follows the directions provided by the manufacturer, they act dually as a tanning aide and as a moisturizer to prevent your skin from becoming dehydrated during the indoor tanning process. This helps to improve the quality of the tan that you develop.

The convenience factor of indoor tanning lotions is increased because you are able to apply them to your skin only minutes before your begin your indoor tanning session, and they are still effective. These lotions have ingredients that are activated by the tanning beds, and you will know that they are working immediately after stepping out of the tanning bed because you will have that healthy, sun-kissed look. Outdoor tanning can lend to serious sun burns that may raise your risk of skin cancer; by following the directions for indoor tanning products you can diminish that risk and tan in a healthier way.

Indoor tanning lotions have come a long way since they were first developed for consumers. In the past they were heavy and left a slimy feeling on your skin long after you left the tanning salon. Now the consumer in the market for an indoor tanning lotion has access to lighter, more natural feeling lotions that also have a variety of accelerates and tints that you can custom choose based on your skin tone. They are available for pale, medium, dark, or already tanned skin tones. Indoor tanning salon lotions have come a long way! Choose only the best indoor tanning products to use at your local tanning salon for optimal, long-lasting results!