Dear TanningBeds.org,

The place where i go to tan has a Sonnen Bruane 524ES tanning bed. When the bed gets hot, it shuts off and won’t come back on until it cools off. They are looking for a manual so that they can maybe fix it. Would you have any idea where to get one?

Thanks,
Vicky
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Dear Vicky,

Rumor has it that SonnenBraune went out of business, as did the German company that made the bed, Lohmann-Werke. You may be in luck, however. The company I work for was instrumental in getting that bed designed for the US market, and we sold those for a couple of years, but that was over a decade ago.

You can try calling 1-800-274-1744 x127 and you can probably get a copy for a small fee to cover postage/handling/paper. (We try to keep most manuals on file for copying if we ever sold them). I know UVA sells most of the other parts for that bed including lamps, ballasts, acrylics, etc. I don’t remember it having a thermal switch, but Archie knows that bed better than I do. I don’t mean to push my employer (this site IS independent) it is just that I don’t know who else would have the owners manual.

The same goes for Puretan, as it appears that they went out of business as well. Many of the other companies have simply disappeared, but fortunately, some of us old guys still know the beds and have the parts.

Dennis

Dear TanningBeds.org,
Hopefully you can help me. I have been tanning in a stand up bed and have had great results on my upper body. Unfortunately, my legs haven’t caught up yet. I would like to maintain the tan on my upper body and get darker on my legs. Any ideas on this? I used a tan accellerator for legs but didn’t like how it made them kind of orangey.

Thanks,
Deborah
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Common problem. So common, in fact, that I designed a home tanning bed to address the problem about 6 years ago. Here is a picture of it. It has more UVB in the leg area to stimulate tanning. We also sell just the lamps, so some salons are installing the lamps in regular tanning beds to get the same advantage. It is becoming more and more popular, as it is the cheapest way to address the issue, and it works well.

The likely reason you are not tanning as well on your legs is: shaving. You might try some changes in your leg shaving routine, something that will remove less skin. Any time you shave, you are scraping away some of your tan.

Other options:

1. Find a “legs only” tanning machine to use (hard to find, and expensive).

2. Every 3rd session or so, sit in a chair at the end of the bed with only your legs in the tanning bed. Or change to the “legs only” position halfway through every session. (Both are awkward but effective).

3. Quit shaving your legs. (ok, just kidding!)

That is pretty much it. Those “leg tanning accelerators” are simply bronzers, and using bronzers only on your legs will likely make them a different color than the rest of your body. Not pretty. Tanning beds always tan strongest in the center of the bed anyway (there are reasons for this that I won’t bore you with…) so it is a challenge to get a perfectly even tan in the best of circumstances.

You can try cheating and use a bronzer all over, but more often on the legs, which may even out the color a bit, but I am still betting on either changing the shaving routine to something more gentle and/or getting more UV on just the legs.

Dennis

Dear TanningBeds.org,

My sister seems to think that taking Melatonin will help you tan faster. Melatonin is an herb, and I believe it is used to help you sleep, but she thinks it increases the Melanin in the skin and helps you tan. Is this true?

Thanks!!
Jamie
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That would be a new one to me. You are correct and I think your sister is just mistaking the two terms. I have seen a few articles where the author referred to “melanin” as “melatonin”, which I would atribute to a typo or the author simply not knowing what they are writing about (common…). Melatonin works within the brain, melanin works at the skin level, completely different.

Dennis

Dear TanningBeds.org,

Every time i try to tan in a tanning bed, i end up breaking out in hives. I’ve tried the bronzing bed, which people say is better for lighter complected skin, and after the second visit, I break out on my arms and legs. i’ve also tried different lotions-with hemp and extra moisturizer, but it still hasn’t helped. People have told me that it was probably the stuff they clean the beds with but I don’t break out where my body touches the bed. It’s really frustrating that i cant tan and i was wondering if you could think of any reason possible that would cause this. I’m kinda reaching out on a limb here i know but i’ve tried all sorts of things and thought it wouldn’t hurt!
Thanks,
JH
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Dear JH,

What you are experiencing is common. From my experience, there are two possible explanations: 1. You are alergic to the sun to one degree or another (unlikely but possible). 2. You have a heat rash, which is extremely common. I get the same thing, even when I start tanning outdoors. Let me explain a bit.

Most people get itchy when they first start tanning, usually for the first two weeks. “Level 1″ lotions are designed with extra moisturizers to deal with this. Tanning beds are usually pretty hot, and you combine the heat, the UV and the fact that most people start out with too long of a session, and you get a rash. You are typically hotter inside a tanning bed than you would be if you tanned outside, and there is usually less airflow. Your body just isn’t used to this, and it causes a negative reaction, hives or heat rash. So how do you deal with this?

For most people, you can reduce each session and let your skin adjust over a couple of weeks, and your skin gets used it. For some, they must always limit their sessions or they always itch. Try using a bed with good airflow and flip over half way through the session as well. Use good moisturizers morning and night, and exfoliate your skin daily. This will keep the pores open and make you less likely to break out. (Personally, if I start out with too much UV, I break out and get super itchy, particularly on the back where I get the most heat.) So slow down with shorter sessions, let your skin adjust, and baby it for a few weeks.

As for the cleaning solution, your friend was correct in that many people do break out from it if it is not wiped off before tanning, but likely this isn’t the issue, as you have already guessed. Not everyone can jump in a tanning bed for 10 minutes the first time. (Me, for instance.) This means it will take longer to build your tan, but the goal should be to look good and feel great, not be bumpy all summer long!

Also, a very tiny percentage of people never can tan in a tanning bed, as they may be mildly alergic to the sun and prone to sun poisoning. Not all alergies are “all or nothing”, some people can have a mild alergy, or simple lower tolorance for sun. If you are in that tiny percentage, there really isn’t anything you can do, although I doubt you are. Good luck!

Dennis

It appears that the website is a big hit in Australia. I have no idea why, since we don’t advertise anywhere, but the more the merrier, so glad you stopped in!

Ok, I will resist the urge to say “G’Day” and “Lets put some shrimp on the Bar-B!”, since I know Aussie’s don’t call them shrimp or talk that way, but to get to the point: I have been getting several email from Australia, and it brings up some interesting challenges. I have no idea what brands of beds are common there, if they are made locally or imported from Europe, etc. Also, I speak many dialects of English, including US, UK, Western Europe, some Eastern Europe and even some Spanglish, but Aussie English is rather different (The last email asked about a broken tanning bed “globe”. I have no idea what that is.). I may have to ask for a description, simply because we often use different words for the same thing.

To better help you, you MUST be sure to READ THE LABEL on the bed, including year, manufacturer, brand, model, etc. and include this in the email. I will do what I can to learn what models are sold in Australia, as well as learn the electrical (120V/60hz, same as US, I believe.) and other facts needed to help. I do know that Aussie’s make some great wine, (Yellow Tail has several that I particularly enjoy) but that is about the extent of my knowledge regarding Australian products at this point.

Keep them coming, please be patient when I don’t understand or are lost about a “new” brand of bed, and ALWAYS leave your return email. I will do everything I can, and always return your email if you include a return address.

Thanks to all our new Aussie friends, and I hope you find some useful information here!

Dennis

Hey gang!

Many of you may not know, but I actually get 2 to 12 emails per day on the site with questions, and usually answer within 1 weekday. I am building a new house and moving, so that is taking up a lot of free time, so during the summer months, it may require an extra day or two, but as always, I promise to answer each and every email sent using the form online.

I will also post a bit less frequent, but will put more content in each one. Holy cow, I have been getting some GREAT questions lately! Stuff I wouldn’t have thought up on my own, but is very worthwhile to post. Some are similar, so I may double up. Remember, I don’t post the majority of questions I get, just the most unique, and I never post your email address. Thanks again, have a great summer, and keep those emails coming!

Dennis