Beautiful tan all year round: choosing a home mini-solarium

The fashion for tanning has firmly entered our lives and is not yet going to lose ground. Many women dream of tanned skin with an even tone. And outwardly dark skin looks healthier and more attractive than sickly pale skin. If in summer you can get the desired skin tone naturally, then in the cold months, when there is very little sun, the only way to achieve the goal is to use a solarium. Visiting professional tanning studios is not cheap, but you can purchase a home solarium and sunbathe at home. Let's figure out how to choose a household tanning device and how to use it so as not to harm your health.

What is a solarium for the home: operating principle and differences from salon analogues

A solarium for home use consists of several low-power ultraviolet lamps installed in a special frame-stand. When the device is turned on, the lamps begin to emit ultraviolet radiation, and the timer controls the session time to prevent an overdose of radiation, which is by no means safe in large doses.

Portable tanning devices differ from similar professional devices in several ways:

• Number of lamps. In household mini-solariums for the face, most often the number of lamps is from 5 to 7. In salon cabins - from 20 to 40 pieces.
• Dimensions. Home appliances, especially mini-models for tanning the face and décolleté, fit even on a small table. There are also compact folding household solariums that take up very little space when folded. Of course, interior devices are much more massive and larger in size, occupying a significant area.
• Lamp power. In home solariums, the average lamp power ranges from 30 W to 80 W, depending on the model. Tanning studios use powerful tubular lamps of 100–180 W.

A mini-facial solarium consists of several low-power UV lamps on a stand

To get an even and noticeable bronze skin tone using a home solarium, you will need significantly more sessions and time than visiting a professional tanning studio. But the smaller number and power of lamps in household appliances minimize the risk of burns.

Advantages and disadvantages of a home mini-solarium

Does it make sense to spend money on buying a home tanning device? You can make the right decision for yourself only by thoughtfully evaluating all the arguments for and against such an acquisition.

Beneficial effects from using a household solarium:

• significantly reduces skin inflammation, including acne and various allergic reactions;
• eliminates unhealthy pale or sallow complexion, which people with thin skin often complain about;
• serves as an effective prevention of depression, stress, and blues during the autumn-winter season, stimulating the production of endorphins (“hormones of happiness”);
• increase immunity and body resistance to colds and viral diseases;
• ensure the body produces vitamin D in sufficient quantities, an important element for healthy skin and bones, hair, nails;
• makes it possible to sunbathe at any time of the year;
• helps to give up completely or partially the use of foundation and powder.

Facial mini-solariums also cover the décolleté and neck area

On the other hand, excessive addiction to sunbathing at home is fraught with unpleasant consequences for appearance and health:

• dehydration and early aging of the skin;
• increased risk of developing cancer;
• there is a possibility of pronounced pigment spots appearing instead of an even tan.

Inconveniences include the need to frequently replace UV lamps at a service center (and such centers are not available in every city), as well as the low power of the lamps and a larger number of sessions to obtain the desired skin tone.

When home tanning is the best solution

Home tanning is not just a way to get a dark skin tone for aesthetic reasons. Some people need sunbathing for medical reasons, including:

• acne, juvenile acne, acne;
• chronic fatigue syndrome;
• asthenia;
• vitamin D deficiency;
• tendency to frequent colds and viral infections;
• osteoporosis and osteoarthritis;
• skin diseases: eczema, psoriasis, seborrhea;
• allergic skin reactions.

In such conditions, the dose of radiation and the frequency of sessions in the solarium are determined by the doctor. To achieve a therapeutic effect, strictly follow the doctor's recommendations. You cannot independently change the duration and number of sessions per course, otherwise either the goal of treatment will not be achieved, or an overdose of UV radiation will seriously harm the skin.

A doctor can prescribe treatments in a solarium for various skin problems

A home solarium is a good and gentle way to prepare your skin for the summer season or a seaside vacation. Several tanning procedures at home will significantly reduce the risk of getting sunburned at southern resorts. And to preserve the tan you get in the south longer, a home solarium is also perfect.

The use of a solarium is not recommended for minors; in some countries it is completely prohibited. In exceptional cases, it is allowed to use a household solarium from the age of 15 years, but only for medical reasons and with mandatory prior consultation with a pediatrician.

When not to use a household solarium

To minimize the risk of unpleasant consequences from home tanning sessions, it is best to undergo a comprehensive examination with a visit to:

• therapist;
• endocrinologist;
• gynecologist;
• dermatologist.

Such serious preparation is justified, because there are many contraindications to using a home solarium:

• the presence of many birthmarks and moles;
• very fair skin with freckles;
• open tuberculosis;
• atherosclerosis;
• heart diseases;
• asthma;
• gynecological diseases;
• blood diseases;
• tumors of any nature;
• pregnancy and lactation;
• menstruation period;
• increased sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation;
• laser resurfacing procedure performed less than six months before using a solarium.

If you are taking hormonal, painkillers, diuretics or psychotropic medications, postpone home tanning procedures until you finish taking these medications.

Postpone the procedure for 3-4 days if you have done cleansing, facial peeling or hair removal, otherwise the tan may become patchy or the skin will simply burn. You should not sunbathe naturally and in a solarium on the same day.

Can sunbathing cause cancer?

By affecting the skin, ultraviolet rays trigger the process of natural protection. As a result, epidermal cells grow rapidly. This may affect the formation of atypical cells that cause tumor development. The main dangers are malignant carcinomas and melanomas.

Carcinomas develop in the outer layer of the skin. Typically, these tumors do not metastasize to other tissues and organs. The cause of carcinomas is excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation on the skin in childhood, which manifests itself in adulthood. People with a genetic predisposition and light-skinned people are at risk.

Increased formation of melanin as a protective reaction to the sun leads to the accumulation of pigmented moles that can develop into one of the most dangerous malignant tumors - melanoma.

People with fair skin or those who sunbathe for a long time in the sun or in a solarium without special protective equipment are at risk.

Popular types of home solariums, review of popular models

There are many models of home tanning devices. They differ in design:

• tabletop mini-solariums for the face;
• portable folding solariums;
• one-sided vertical home solariums.

Which model to choose depends on what part of the body you want to irradiate. If your goal is to maintain a tanned complexion on your face, neck, and décolleté during the colder months, then a small tabletop machine or foldable model for the face, neck, and décolleté will suffice.

Folding facial solarium - the most compact version of the device

If you want to tan completely at home, then choose larger one-sided models. There are folding devices on the market that, when folded, will take up no more space than a medium-sized oil radiator. You can choose another option - a large one-sided home solarium, which will successfully replace a professional device. Outwardly similar to an ironing board. This device combines 5–10 vertical lamps. The structure is attached to a tripod, you can easily change the position of the device, move it thanks to the wheels, and put it away for storage if necessary.

One-sided home solarium allows you to tan completely

Let's talk briefly about popular models of home solariums. Devices from the Philips brand have gained wide popularity, but other manufacturers also have many worthy analogues in their assortment.

Keep in mind that the lamps in a home solarium have a limited service life and need to be changed periodically with the assistance of specialists. Therefore, when choosing an installation, be sure to pay attention to the power and life of the lamps.

Mini facial solarium Philips HB 179/01

Solarium Philips HB 179/01 has a bright design and small size

Model HB 179/01 is intended for irradiation of the face, but also covers the décolleté and neck area. The device has built-in 4 lamps of 75 W, a timer (maximum time 60 minutes), and a carrying handle. There are 2 installation position options. Includes 2 pairs of safety glasses. Users note the reliability and durability of the device, affordable price, but to get a pronounced effect, it will take at least a month of regular procedures.

Solarium for face DR. Kern Quattro

Solarium DR. Kern Quattro is compact, but does not include safety glasses

Model of an inexpensive mini-solarium DR. Kern Quattro has dimensions of 34x24x19 cm, 4 UV lamps 75 W, reflective sheet, timer (maximum time 30 minutes), carrying handle. Due to the low power of the lamps, it also takes a long time to get a noticeable tan on your face; safety glasses are not included. According to customer reviews, the white body of the device gets dirty easily, but it is not easy to clean.

Device "Sun OUFK-03"

The device "Sun OUFK-03" is loved by users for its effectiveness in treating colds

The domestic device “Sun OUFK-03” is primarily intended for the treatment and prevention of various diseases in adults and children. The tan here is more of a nice bonus than the main effect. The device has 2 lamps with a power of 30 W, 4 plastic tubes for irradiating the nose, ears, mouth, purulent wounds on the skin, and a storage bag. Safety glasses included. The device can be placed vertically or suspended. If you remove the protective cover, you can use the device as a solarium or to disinfect a room. Users note ease of use and a clear therapeutic effect, especially in the fight against colds and viral diseases in children.

Single-sided solarium Philips HB555

The Philips HB555 ​​solarium can be installed in a horizontal or vertical position and sunbathe while lying, sitting or standing

The Philips HB555 ​​full body tanning model can be installed in both vertical and horizontal positions. The installation includes 10 vertical lamps, a built-in timer, auto-shutdown and body cooling systems, and 2 pairs of glasses in the set. Mounting to a stand with wheels makes it easy to move the device. The disadvantages include the impressive dimensions of the installation; it requires quite a lot of space for storage.

Home solarium Alisun Salsa 12

One-sided solarium Alisun Salsa 12 is suitable for a spacious apartment or private house

The device is impressive in size and, in fact, is a real installation for professional tanning at home. It has a timer, a silent cooling system, 10 vertical lamps on a tripod with a stand. You can adjust the angle of inclination, place it vertically and horizontally. According to customer reviews, the tan applies evenly, but rather slowly. With regular use, you will need to change the lamps 2-3 times a year, which is not a cheap pleasure. It requires a lot of storage space; it is more suitable for a private house than for an apartment in a standard high-rise building.

Video: review of the folding solarium model Innergize 8580 from Hapro

How to choose a mini solarium that is right for you

When choosing a mini solarium, be guided primarily by what type of skin you have. This includes skin sensitivity, its tendency to external irritants that contribute to various types of aging and drying. And if you have skin diseases, be sure to consult your doctor before using a mini solarium.

How to tan properly at home: procedure method

To ensure that the result of using a household solarium is a beautiful bronze skin tone and only positive emotions, and not burns, you need to tan correctly at home. The procedure includes:

1. Preparatory stage.
2. Installing and configuring the device, turning it on.
3. Direct irradiation of the skin with ultraviolet light.
4. Final skin care.

Preparation for the procedure

To obtain the desired effect, it is important to properly prepare for the effects of a solarium:

1. Thoroughly cleanse the skin and wash with clean water. Soap is not used when washing. It destroys the natural fatty film on the surface of the skin and makes it vulnerable to aggressive UV rays.
2. A special protective cream for use in a solarium is applied to cleansed skin. Beach sun creams are not suitable. Don't forget to apply the cream to your lips, their thin, delicate skin especially needs protection.
3. Hair should be tucked under a headscarf or cap, moles should be covered with a stickkini, if your chest also gets tanned, then don’t forget about special protective caps.
4. You need to wear safety glasses over your eyes. Be sure to remove contact lenses if you wear them.
5. Be sure to remove all jewelry. Their contact with ultraviolet radiation can give an unpredictable effect.
6. On the day of the procedure, it is better to avoid using perfume.

Before using the tanning bed, clean your skin and rinse with water.

Installation and configuration of the device

Preparing the device does not take much time and only includes a few simple steps:

1. Before starting the session, install the device so that the radiation hits the desired area.
2. If you are using a mini facial, place a chair or chair in front of it so you don't have to stand during the entire session.
3. Set the timer for the required time and turn on the device. If there is no timer function, then set an alarm clock so as not to open your eyes again.
4. Turn on the device.

Skin irradiation

When you have prepared for the procedure and turned on the device, proceed as follows:

1. Sit in front of the device not immediately after turning it on, but after a while (it differs in different models, check the instructions).
2. The session ends when the sleep timer expires.

The first irradiation session should not exceed 5 minutes

The first session should not exceed 5 minutes. If there is no negative skin reaction to the solarium or discomfort, the time of each subsequent session can be increased by 5 minutes. The maximum time for one session is 15–20 minutes (if the skin does not suffer from increased sensitivity, a tendency to quickly burn in the sun and the appearance of age spots).

For skin that is very sensitive and prone to the appearance of age spots, the maximum time for one procedure is 10 minutes; sessions are permissible no more than once every 2-3 days.

Final skin care

Skin care after home tanning is very important; it allows you to consolidate the effect of the procedure, protect your skin from dehydration and early aging. You can apply a special fixing cream after sunbathing depending on your skin type or use nourishing masks. You can buy such a mask in a store, or you can prepare it at home using one of the following recipes:

1. Mix finely chopped tomato with 60 g of cottage cheese and 60 g of olive or any vegetable oil, apply to the face and leave for 20 minutes.
2. Mix grated carrots with a small amount of vegetable oil to make a thick paste, apply to the face for 15–20 minutes.

A carrot mask after solarium will help fix your tan.

Possible complications and side effects

Sometimes when using portable tanning beds, users encounter the following complications and side effects:

• sunburn;
• skin hyperpigmentation - chloasma;
• allergic reaction - photodermatitis.

In practice, the cause of most side effects is the neglect of safety measures and contraindications for the procedure, the use of low-quality or unsuitable tanning cosmetics, and exceeding the recommended frequency and duration of sessions. Therefore, choose protective cosmetics from trusted brands and pay attention to expiration dates, do not sunbathe for more than 15–20 minutes at a time and remember about contraindications and situations when tanning needs to be delayed (menstruation, hair removal, recent facial cleansing, etc.).

Beauty industry

At the beginning of the twentieth century, the concepts of “beauty” and “tanning” were synonymous. Women from the upper strata of society were the first to introduce the fashion for tanning. They basked on luxurious beaches, so that later in high-society living rooms their tanned backs would sparkle. A tan represented not only beauty, it also symbolized wealth, idleness - in a word, everything that we still unite with the sweet concept of “luxury”. It was thanks to these women that in subsequent years the so-called “fashion for being healthy” arose and a special direction in the economy arose - the fitness industry. And a separate direction has sprung up from the fitness industry, for which there has not yet even a special spelling in the Russian language - wellness, from the English word “well” - “good”. This word refers to everything we do in beauty salons, spa centers, saunas, baths, etc. in order to be healthy and beautiful. The concept of “wellness” also includes visiting a solarium.

With the appearance of ozone holes in the Earth's atmosphere, tanning in the open has become a clearly unsafe pastime - doctors around the world are sounding the alarm due to the increase in the number of cancer diseases. The connection between sun rays and an increase in the number of cases of skin cancer - melanoma - and the most common mole can evolve into it - can be seen quite clearly. But the fashion for tanning still exists and, it seems, will exist for a long time - just look at any, even the most modest sports club or beauty salon. The list of services offered there will definitely include a solarium.

How many times a year can you sunbathe under the indoor sun?

When it comes to solariums, there is one rule - less is better than more. Research in recent years suggests the benefits of short-term sunbathing and that artificial tanning is less harmful to the skin than natural tanning. But even despite this, it is impossible to sunbathe in a solarium, even with a low-power mini-device, all the time, experts are unanimous on this.

To obtain beneficial effects in the form of sufficient vitamin D production, strengthening the immune system, improving hormonal levels and mood, a course of 10–12 procedures is sufficient. The optimal interval between procedures of one course is 2–3 days. It is recommended to carry out no more than 2 tanning courses per year using a home solarium.

A course of procedures with a mini-solarium at home can be carried out no more than 2 times a year

How noticeable is a tan after a home solarium?

In home installations, the lamps are much less powerful and there are several times fewer of them than in a professional UV capsule. You should not expect to get the same pronounced dark skin tone using a portable solarium as when visiting a tanning studio. You can see a noticeable effect from procedures at home, a light bronze or golden tone of the skin only after 5-7 procedures. In each case, the severity of the effect depends on the individual skin’s sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation, its phototype, and genetic characteristics.

Even after completing a course of 12 procedures, you will not become a “chocolate”, but with proper skin care and inclusion in the menu of products that prolong the effect of solarium, the achieved result can be preserved longer.

Do's and Don'ts to maintain your tan at home

All techniques related to maintaining a tan are divided into external (cosmetic procedures) and internal (use of products that help maintain a dark skin tone).

When caring for your skin, consider the following rules:

1. Use after-sun creams to consolidate the effect of solarium.
2. During water procedures, there is no need to actively rub the skin with a brush or washcloth; it is better to choose a soft sponge.
3. Replace the exfoliating body scrub with a moisturizing gel.
4. Avoid cosmetics with a whitening effect and acids in their composition (lemon, cucumber extracts or parsley juice, vitamin C, lactic acid).
5. Use coffee scrubs.
6. You can wipe your face with ice cubes made from tea, coffee or cocoa.
7. It is better to avoid visiting bathhouses, saunas, and hot baths.
8. You can add 2-3 teaspoons of strong tea or coffee to a warm bath.

When creating a menu, do not forget to include products such as:

• fatty fish, especially red ones;
• vegetable oils, seeds, nuts;
• fruits and berries (strawberries, currants, citrus fruits, apricots, melons, peaches, mangoes);
• vegetables and herbs (sweet peppers, tomatoes, carrots, spinach);
• butter;
• liver;
• eggs.

Foods with unsaturated fats are beneficial for maintaining healthy and tanned skin.

And do not forget to drink clean water in sufficient quantities, otherwise you risk getting not a beautiful skin color, but early wrinkles.

What cosmetics should I use in a solarium?

As for the cosmetics offered in solariums, they are traditionally divided into two large groups: cosmetics before tanning and cosmetics after, but its creators pursue the same goals: to protect the skin from harmful effects and “keep” the tan on it for as long as possible longer time.

Pre-tanning cosmetics contain special substances that promote tanning and reduce the time for the formation of pigment cells. When you arrive at the solarium and undress, rub yourself thoroughly with tanning lotion or oil. This product will protect your skin from excessive dryness and help it better “absorb” radiation. This cosmetics does not contain sun protection factors.

After-sun cosmetics have an intense soothing and cooling effect. Immediately after tanning, it is necessary to apply a lotion to the skin to promote the development of a tan and fix it on the skin.

All such cosmetics are produced specifically for a particular type of appearance, and the use of cosmetics by people of the Celtic type for the Mediterranean type will not bring any benefit.

And one more thing: if you decide to take a shower after tanning, avoid scrubs and products containing soap. Use only very gentle products for sensitive skin.

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Possible harm

When choosing a solarium for home use, it is important to remember that the use of artificial irradiators is fraught with negative consequences for the body, namely:

• there is a high risk of heavy pigmentation;
• increased risk of developing skin cancer and other cancer diseases;
• severe dehydration of the skin and its premature aging.

For some diseases, the use of a solarium is prohibited. Therefore, before purchasing and starting procedures, you should consult a doctor.