How to Tan in Tanning Beds With High Blood Pressure

Tanning with high blood pressure has both risks and benefits. Ultraviolet lights from tanning beds can bring on a relaxed feeling and lower your blood pressure. If you take medicine for your high blood pressure you should be cautious because, according to the Health Physics Society, some high blood pressure medications cause an increased sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation.

Things You'll Need

• Antibacterial Wipes
• Tanning goggles
• Lip balm
• Tanning lotion
• Moisturizing lotion

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Instructions

• 1

  Consult with your pharmacist or doctor before tanning. Check if your blood pressure medication is one that increases your sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation, so you know to take appropriate measures.

• 2

  Drink up to 12 glasses of water on tanning days to keep your skin hydrated, since tanning can have a drying effect on your skin.

• 3

  Take safety precautions when using tanning beds. Wipe down the tanning bed with antibacterial wipes before and after using it. Wear tanning goggles because ultraviolet light easily penetrates your eyelids. Apply lip balm to your lips and tanning bed lotion to your entire body to protect your skin from ultraviolet light.

• 4

  Use the lowest setting on the tanning bed and stay exposed to the light for no more than 5 minutes per day. Due to the heightened light sensitivity brought on by your blood pressure medication, you may burn quickly. It is safest to stay exposed for a short amount of time when establishing your base tan.

• 5

  Find the right tanning duration for your skin. Increase the amount of time you tan by one minute every couple of days to get to your desired tanning time. Decrease the amount of time once you find that the added minutes cause your skin to become red. The Master Tanning website states you should never tan multiple times per day or for more than 20 minutes per day.

• 6

  Apply moisturizing lotion to your skin after each tanning session to keep your skin moisturized and to avoid it from drying.