Question 1

How old you need to be

Accepted Answer

In the UK you must be 18 to use a sunbed, and you may be asked for ID, so make sure you take your ID with you if you’re lucky enough to look younger than your age!

Question 2

What is a sunbed session?

Accepted Answer

A sunbed session is carefully measured to bring your skin right up to its Minimal Erythemal Dose (MED) — that’s the point just before your skin starts to burn. Once you go beyond this point, you’re not improving your tan; you’re causing damage.
Everyone’s MED is different and depends on:
Skin type: fairer skin burns faster than deeper skin tones.
Sunbed strength: higher-powered beds need shorter sessions.
Current tan level: the darker your skin, the longer you can usually go — within safe limits.
This is why every session is personalised — there’s no one-size-fits-all time limit.
And it’s crucial to never sunbathe outdoors on the same day as your sunbed session — your skin is already at its limit for UV exposure, and adding more from natural sunlight can push it straight into overexposure or burning.
The goal is a safe, gradual tan that develops beautifully, not a quick burn that damages your skin and reverses all your progress.

Question 3

Why will some sunbed salons let me use their sunbeds for longer sessions?

Accepted Answer

This depends entirely upon the type of sunbed being offered. The power and UV output can vary considerably from sunbed to sunbed. A professional sunbed operator will advise on the correct session length, dependent upon sunbed, skin type and stage of tan development.
A new regulation now requires all sunbeds to have a maximum irradiance level of 0.3W/m2 and this will mean the length of a session will need to be increased to achieve the same dosage.

Question 4

Is there a link between UV exposure and skin cancer?

Accepted Answer

There are two types of skin cancer – non-melanoma which can usually be easily treated. The second is malignant melanoma, which if not treated early enough can prove fatal.
Some evidence points to sunburn and over-exposure to UV being one of the possible risk factors in contracting skin cancer. It follows, therefore, that avoiding melanomas can be helped by controlling exposure to UV – particularly in children.
Malignant melanoma is found to be most prevalent on parts of the body not normally exposed to sunlight, suggesting that it is those areas that have to deal with intermittent, excessive doses of UV that are most vulnerable – or that UV over-exposure is not the only cause.
Controlled exposure to UV, either in sunlight or on a sunbed, is important to avoid over-exposure and sunburn

Question 5

What are the benefits of using a sunbed?

Accepted Answer

Sunbeds offer a controlled way to tan and can provide appropriate levels of UV to ensure sufficient levels of Vitamin D are achieved and maintained (see section on Vitamin D for more on this subject).    Vitamin D | Flamingo Bay Tanning
Tanning in sunlight means the body can be subjected to different levels of UV rays, depending on the time of day, location in the world, month of the year and so on. With a sunbed, a tanning programme can be developed to ensure skin type and the type of sunbed being used, are taken into consideration to ensure that over exposure, including the possibility of burning, is avoided.

Question 6

Is it true there is no such thing as a safe tan?

Accepted Answer

No. Tanned skin protects against sunburn, thought to be the main cause of melanoma. If you avoid getting sunburned, the benefits of moderate sun exposure (see Vitamin D section) will far outweigh any risks.

Question 7

Is unprotected sun exposure unhealthy?

Accepted Answer

Although precautions do need to be taken, regular, moderate amounts of unprotected UV exposure are absolutely necessary for good health. Independent scientific research has shown that whether you live in a sunny or not-so-sunny climate, but expose yourself to sun, then your subsequent increased production of Vitamin D will help lower the risk of a host of debilitating and fatal diseases including colon, breast, prostate and ovarian cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, Type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis and depression.

Question 8

Are sunbeds for tanning only?

Accepted Answer

If you don’t have the opportunity to go out in the sun or prefer a more private and controlled environment, indoor tanning facilities represent a viable alternative to natural sunshine for stimulating your production of Vitamin D. However, it is important to remember that the radiation that you are exposed to in an indoor tanning facility is the same as what you get from the sun. That means you need to take the same precautions that you would if you were in natural sunlight.

Question 9

If you’re on any medication

Accepted Answer

If you are taking medications or natural supplements you should research if they are capable of causing a photosensitive reaction which you may need adjust tanning times accordingly or even not allowed to use a Sunbed.

Question 10

What’s your Tanning Skin Type?

Accepted Answer

Skin Type 1
Usually very white or pale, blue or green eyes, red hair and many freckles. This skin type burns very easily and tans with great difficulty. Tanning must be undertaken very carefully.
 
Skin Type 2
 Light beige skin, blue or green eyes, blonde or light brown hair and maybe freckles. This skin type has a tendency to burn. Tanning must be undertaken carefully and correctly.
 
Skin Type 3
 Light brown skin, brown eyes and hair. This skin type sometimes burns but always tans.
 
Skin Type 4
 Light brown or olive skin, dark brown eyes and hair. This skin type sometimes burns and tans easily.
 
Skin Type 5
Brown skin, dark brown hair and eyes. This skin type rarely burns and tans very easily.

Question 11

Why a Tanning Lotion

Accepted Answer

Before hitting the tanning bed, you might want to get yourself an indoor tanning lotion from us, or else your skin could end up dry, dull, flaky and just not looking all that good.
Indoor tanning lotions are the types used for tanning beds and should not be used under the sun unless specified on the bottle. They contain no SPF to protect you from the sun’s harmful UV rays, although some have sunscreen included.
In fact, indoor tanning lotions tend to intensify UV rays rather than block them. This makes their job of giving you a faster, darker tan more effective. They can also keep your skin healthy and may protect you from skin cancer in the long run.
The main reason for the use of indoor tanning lotions is to prevent your skin from drying out during the process. Since indoor tanning accelerates and intensifies the tanning process, the skin also tends to dry up quickly.
This could lead to peeling, which is undesirable since this will cause you to lose your tan sooner.

Question 12

Accelerator & Maximiser Lotions

Accepted Answer

If you’re new to tanning or have pale/sensitive skin, we would recommend beginning with an accelerator/maximiser lotion. Most beginner accelerators contain great anti-aging elements ideal for building up a base tan, beginner accelerators are non-tingle and don’t contain bronzers.
We would advise you use a moisturiser formulated with hemp seed oil – We have a range of these from perfectly pink to coconut & water melon

Question 13

Bronzer Lotions

Accepted Answer

The next step up and most popular type of tanning accelerator is the bronzer.
There are two types of bronzer; the immediate and delayed.
The great advantage of bronzers is that they combine DHA and active ingredients to give instant dark results and long-lasting colour, yet continue to develop after a tanning session to continually improve your tan.
With bronzers, you need to ensure you apply the lotion evenly or you can end up with a patchy tan.
Tip – Ensure you wipe your hands thoroughly after applying a bronzing lotion to ensure you don’t end up with hands darker than the rest of your body!

Question 14

What is 0.3 compliant mean

Accepted Answer

At Flamingo Bay, all our sunbeds are 0.3 compliant — and that’s a good thing! 
Here’s what it means in plain English:

💡 0.3 is the maximum safe UV output allowed by law in the UK. It means our beds give you a gentle, golden tanwithout the harsh intensity that can cause burning or skin damage.
Think of it like this — a 0.3 compliant sunbed gives you the same tanning effect as the midday Mediterranean sun, just in a controlled, even, and safe way.

So when you tan at Flamingo Bay, you’re getting:
✨ A beautiful, natural-looking glow
✨ Maximum safety for your skin
✨ A consistent tan every time

In short — 0.3 compliant = safer tanning, better results, and glowing skin that loves you back.

Question 15

Why do you not allow Tingle Creams on your lie down beds

Accepted Answer

At Flamingo Bay, we don’t allow tingle tanning creams on our Ergoline lie-down beds — and here’s why 👇
🔥 Tingle creams heat up your skin by boosting blood flow to the surface — that’s what gives that “hot and red” feeling some people love. But while they might make your skin feel like it’s working harder, they can actually cause irritation or burning for people with sensitive skin — even from leftover residue on the bed surface.

They also damage the beds. The active ingredients in tingle creams can react with the acrylic surface of the sunbed, causing it to weaken, crack, or discolour over time — and that’s an expensive no-no!

Our priority is safety, hygiene, and results. By keeping tingle products off our Ergoline beds, we make sure every customer gets a clean, comfortable, and irritation-free tanning experience — with equipment that stays in top condition for your glow.

So it’s not about being strict — it’s about protecting your skin and our beds so you can keep glowing safely, session after session.

Question 16

Do you clean the sunbeds after every use?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Every sunbed is thoroughly sanitised after each session using professional cleaning products suitable for acrylic tanning beds.

Question 17

Why do you ask about skin type?

Accepted Answer

Different skin types react differently to UV exposure. Understanding your skin type helps us recommend suitable session times and responsible tanning advice.

Question 18

Do I need eye protection?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Protective eyewear is essential and is available within the salon. Never use a sunbed without proper eye protection.

Question 19

Why choose Flamingo Bay?

Accepted Answer

We pride ourselves on offering:
Professional 0.3 compliant sunbeds
Premium Ergoline equipment
Strict hygiene standards
Experienced staff
Responsible tanning advice
A clean, welcoming studio environment

Question 20

Why are your rules so strict?

Accepted Answer

At Flamingo Bay, customer safety and equipment standards come first. We follow strict tanning guidelines to protect both our clients and our professional tanning equipment. Responsible tanning is part of maintaining a premium studio environment.

Tamworth’s Professional Tanning Studio

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