How Often Should You Use a Sunbed? A Realistic Guide

If you've just started using sunbeds, or you're thinking about it, the question of how often to go is the one that matters most. Use them too often and you risk overdoing it. Leave too long a gap between sessions and you'll never build a base tan in the first place. Here's a realistic, sensible breakdown.

The general rule

Most tanning professionals recommend no more than two to three sessions per week, with at least 24 to 48 hours between each one. This gives your skin time to recover and lets the tan develop properly rather than overlapping UV exposure before your skin has settled.

Sunbeds work by stimulating melanin production in the skin. That process takes time. Tanning every single day doesn't speed it up — it just increases the risk of burning, dryness, and premature ageing of the skin, without giving you a noticeably faster result.

Building a base tan

If you're starting fresh, especially heading into spring or before a holiday, the first two weeks matter most. A typical approach looks like this:

• Sessions 1–3: shorter exposure times, spaced every other day, to establish a base tan safely

• Sessions 4–8: slightly longer sessions, two to three times a week, to build and deepen colour

• Maintenance: once you have your base tan, one to two sessions a week is usually enough to maintain it

Your skin type plays a big role here. Fairer skin needs shorter, more cautious sessions; if you tan more easily, you can build a little faster, but the same minimum gaps between sessions still apply.

Signs you're overdoing it

Your skin will tell you if you're going too often. Watch out for these warning signs:

• Skin feels tight, dry, or itchy after sessions

• Any redness that lasts more than a few hours

• Colour isn't actually improving despite frequent sessions — a sign your skin needs recovery time, not more UV

If you notice any of these, it's worth taking a few days off entirely and using a good moisturiser before going back.

Why spacing sessions actually gives a better tan

This is the part people often get wrong: more sessions doesn't equal more colour. Melanin production and the visible deepening of a tan happen over the 24–48 hours after a session, not during it. Going back too soon just adds UV exposure on top of skin that's still processing the last session, which raises risk without adding benefit.

A simple guide to follow

• New to sunbeds: 2–3 sessions per week, alternating days, for the first two weeks

• Maintaining a tan: 1–2 sessions per week

• Always leave at least 24 hours between sessions, minimum 48 hours if your skin is fair or sensitive

• Use a tanning moisturiser between sessions to support skin health and tan longevity

Not sure what's right for your skin type? Our team at THE GLO HUB STAFFS in Cellarhead can talk you through a tanning schedule tailored to you — whether you're building a base tan for a holiday or maintaining colour year-round. We're easy to reach from Stoke, Leek, Hanley, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Cheddleton. Book your session today.