Tanning: Q&A

I want a tan right now. How long will it take? For an instant tan, you'll need to go fake. If you have a little more patience, after three to five tanning sessions on a sunbed, you should see some colour in your skin.

Aren't fake tans rubbish? They've come a long way. Many beauty salons offer highly effective tanning treatments, including spray tanning, which should sastisy even the most exacting tan fans.

I've booked a tanning session on a sunbed. What on earth should I wear? Whatever you like. Lots of people like tanning in their underwear or swimsuits, but if you don't want tan lines, go naked. If you're going for a fake tan, wear dark, loose fitting clothing and dark undies in case any of the bronzer rubs off.

What about getting ready for tanning? To get set for sunbed tanning, you should:

• remove all make-up and perfume from your skin
• take off all your jewellery
• use a lotion specially designed for indoor tanning

If you're having a fake tan, you'll need to exfoliate your skin first. Some salons will do this as part of the treatment.

How long is a sunbed tanning session? It depends on the type of sunbed you're on. The idea is to start with short tanning sessions and build up their length as your skin becomes used to the UV light.

Do I need to cover anything up on a sunbed? Yes—your eyes. The tanning studio should provide protective goggles. You might also want to protect any sensitive bits that aren't used to seeing the sun.

Can anyone use a sunbed? You can use a sunbed, as long as you're 16 or over. However, you should not use one if you:

• have very fair skin
• burn easily
• have lots of freckles and moles
• have had skin cancer or a family history of the illness
• are using medication that could make your skin oversensitive to UV light

Should you have a tanning session every day? You should wait a minimum of 24 hours between sessions. And don't try tanning outside on the same day as your sunbed session—you might burn.