I don't remember the facts, but I do know that even one bad regular sun burn ups your chance of getting skin cancer, I don't know about using a tanning bed for a month, I'm sure it isn't going to put you as much at risk as a lifetime user, but there is still risk there.

Having had 5 people in my family have cancer and seeing how horrible it is to go through, I personally wouldn't risk it just to get a tan.

But really, it's all about what you feel comfortable doing.

If you read the little instructional things posted inside nearly all tanning beds, they say: If you do not tan well in an outside setting, you will not tan well in a tanning bed.

That's what i figured. well that answers my question. i will stick to bottle tans. thanks everyone tho.

I used to tan a few times a week because my roommate worked at the tanning salon near campus and let me tan free. I look back at pictures of myself with my orange-y, Oompa Loompa-looking legs and am like, "Did I think that looked GOOD?"

I have heard, though, that tanning bed technology has improved a lot since then. Just be careful and don't overdo it!

Here's some helpful hints from a tanning salon patron:

First of all be very careful about the amount of time you spend in a bed. Every tanning salon is different and some use higher watt bulbs that can burn you faster in shorter periods of time. I start out at 5 to 8 minutes and continue that for a week or until I'm not burning after going. Then I increase my minutes accordingly.

Be careful if the salon has just changed their bulbs on the beds. Most will post signs, but it's always good to ask because if they have then they are EXTRA strong at first and you should cut back the amount of minutes you go for...this includes if you've been tanning for a while.

Always use a tanning lotion (NOT AN SPF - that ruins their beds). A few good lotions that I've used are Sweedish Beauty, Joop!, Butter Milk... tanning lotions help increase the tanning process and decrease the amount of dryness you get from tanning without lotion.

ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS wear the goggles. I don't care how STUPID it sounds...but just protect your eyes.

Furthermore if you start to feel really really hot while in the bed, don't feel stupid if you get out and stop it...or put a towel on your face or the area that feels very hot. The places on our bodies that "never see the light of day" BURN faster and usually worse than others. If you tan naked be careful cuz if you burn your A$$ it will itch and hurt for weeks (speaking from experience). :p

Do some research too on the salons. See what places offer special student discounts and what places offer tanning prices by the minute versus a monthly package. I like to start out by the minute because if I burn myself and can't go for a few days I don't feel like I'm wasting my money. Then I might switch to a salon that goes by the month once I've built up my tan. There are some places that also offer "Early Bird" specials where you can tan for however many minutes between certain A.M. hours. That's always nice cuz then you don't have to buy a package.