Quick answer
Minutes only mean something for a specific sunbed. The amount of UV you get depends on the type, number, age and distance of the lamps, so ten minutes on one bed can be much stronger than ten on another. That's why you should ask the salon for the recommended time on each bed rather than going by minutes you've used elsewhere.
What decides the strength of a sunbed
- Type of lamps: beds use different tubes, and some add extra high-pressure facial lamps.
- Number of lamps: more tubes usually means more UV.
- Age of the lamps: output changes over a tube's life, and new tubes can be noticeably stronger. The Health and Safety Executive advises salons to reassess customers' exposure when tubes are replaced.
- Distance: stand-up beds often put the lamps closer to you. See lay-down vs stand-up sunbeds.
Why "minutes" can mislead
Because of all this, a session time only applies to the bed it was set for. A 2013 study of 400 sunbeds in England, run with Cancer Research UK's involvement, found that most gave out more UV than British and European standards allow, and that UV levels varied widely from bed to bed.
What to do
- Ask the salon for the recommended time for the specific bed and your skin, every time you use a new bed.
- Ask whether the lamps have been changed recently.
- Start at the shortest recommended time and only build up if your skin stays clear.
More in how long to sunbed as a beginner and how to avoid burning on a sunbed.
