Someone wrote this information on tanning which I found interesting:

'I know that tanning units have a constant output of UV rays—unlike the sun, whose rays are difficult for any of us to measure or attempt to do so except of course, the scientists and such like. The predictability of a single sunbed session is fairly obvious to those of us familiar with it, giving us a nice sense of security and well-being. So, we know that for any single sunbed session the outcome is pretty certain [except for beginners who need to find out from their tanning operators and get informed.]We know this because of the ‘time-limit‘ involved which is described in Tanning language as ‘DOSE’. This dose can be adjusted quite precisely by us as we become more familiar with our experience on the sunbed, to suit our skin-type and our tan condition at that moment. We can always alter our time [dose] on the sunbed. We can predict what we need. Although this is a very technical subject, you’re just getting an outline of it here; a very simple one. The basic fact to be remembered is; that the dose needed to get a SUNBURN is a lot less than one needed to get a SUNTAN. If you think about it you know that is true. On holiday in the sun, for hours at a time, [no shade sunbathing, which is highly recommended], you always know how easy it is to get SUNBURNED---in the usual places--- on the shoulders, tops of legs, nose and cheeks--- the usual places. You know that and always hope to avoid it. Perhaps you don’t get a bad sunburn. You just get that tingly, tight feeling and soreness. This happens on the sunbed too at the salon, if your dose is too long and the sunbed too intense via the lamps. Whichever. The damage being done to the cells of your skin is being done and there is nothing you can do to stop it. It is a process which once activated will carry through to its own healing. Yes. You do heal obviously. You may not even think much of the event depending on how bad it is. That’s not the point. The point is SUNBURN is bad for you. Really bad. It is a no—no. Absolutely don’t do it. You just do not know what the implications are for this. So----- we know that getting a suntan for a lot of people, whether it’s on the sunbed or on the beach means the high risk of getting sunburned, and that getting a tan in either case is dependant on taking it easy. That it takes a lot more than ‘just getting some rays’ to get a suntan. So---to avoid this sunburn business----because you see it’s not the sunbathing itself, whether or not you’re on the beach or on the sunbed, that’s the issue –or the problem; getting the rays whichever way------ is more good for you than not; it’s the dose which is the deciding factor in all this. [I only know because I make it my business to know via scientific data, reports of which are recorded from the many ongoing conferences and summits throughout the world. You’d be surprised how many professional people and groups are dedicated to research and tests and the quest for more solid proof, keeping up to date with our health issues regarding this topic and all it’s variations. It is fascinating and does eventually filter through to ‘our’ world where laws are made and health and safety issues are considered.]'