Low pressure

Low pressure tanning bulbs are the most common home and salon type installed by tanning bed manufacturers today and the usually employ 100-120 watt fluorescent type lamps.   The number of lamps in low pressure tanning beds range from 16 to 32 or more and a low pressure tanning bed may also include up to three 400 watt high pressure facial bulbs but still be considered a low pressure tanning bed.

High pressure  

High pressure tanning lamps generate primarily UVA (99.9%) with some UVB by using highly specialized quartz lamps, reflector systems and filters. These are less common and much more expensive, thus less commonly used. High pressure bulbs typically begin at 400 watts which are the most common type of “facial” bulbs in low pressure tanning beds.  Other high pressure tanning bed bulb varieties include 500 watt, 1000 watt, and even 2000 watt units.

High pressure tanning beds require special filter glass to remove the UVC and the majority of the UVB that is emitted and are difficult to manufacture because the alignment of the lamps is more critical than in traditional low-pressure tanning beds. They are generally large units, with a padded area to lie on or an acrylic and 6 to 36 lamps in a canopy or canopy and bench configuration, the tanning effect is much deeper and requires only a maintenance exposure of about 2-3 times per month compared to every 48 hours for regular tanning beds. They are much more expensive to operate, thus more expensive for the user. Retail prices in the $20,000 to $35,000 range are common with individual sessions costing $20 to $45, depending on the market.

Facial lamps

High pressure facial bulbs typically begin at 400 watts which are the most common type of “facial” bulbs in low pressure tanning beds.  Other high pressure tanning bed bulb varieties include 500 watt, 1000 watt, and even 2000 watt units and can also be used in stand up tanning booths.

High pressure tanning beds require special filter glass to remove the UVC and the majority of the UVB that is emitted and are difficult to manufacture because the alignment of the lamps is more critical than in traditional low-pressure tanning beds.

Spaghetti Lamps

This term refers to a type of lamp which is very thin and may range from 25 to 40 watts in power.  They are used in tanning beds with special arm, shoulder, or side tanners.

Dual Sun Lamps

Refer to Tanning Bed Lampswhich are “painted” on one end of the lamp where your face may be.  The idea here is to block the UVB light with a external paint of some source, only allowing the UVA light thru, simulating a high pressure facial lamp.

History of tanning lamps

The first original tanning lamps were discovered by accident in 1903 by a German company called Heraeus who were developing lighting systems for the home and for industrial usage. These lamps were of the high-pressure metal halide variety. They discovered that the light that was developed for visible light purposes also emitted ultra-violet light. In the 1920s and 1930's they (Heraeus) first started to market and sell single lamp, self standing tanning/wellness devices. The first high-pressure tanning beds incorporating more than a single high-pressure lamp were manufactured in the mid to late seventies by companies such as Ultrabronz and JK Ergoline and in the 1980s the first high-pressure units were exported to the United States.

Active Ingredients of Tanning Bed Lamps

European tanning beds generally use a different type of lamp as well, with UVB ratings in the 1% to 3% range (using US measuring methods) whereas most tanning beds sold in the US use 4.2% to 6.5% UVB ratings, and aftermarket lamps with up to 8.5% or higher being popular. Of course, these lamps have less UVA and will produce a sunburn quicker, but many Americans seem to like them because a short session produces a "reddening", or instant gratification. These lamps actually produce a slower deep tan (but a faster base tan) that fades faster, but are simply marketed as "hotter", although technically they have about the same amount of UV but with different ratios of UVA and UVB.

UVA vs UVB

A tanning bed bulb is basically divided between the % of UVA and UVB light in which the bulb emits.  A typical home tanning bed with a 20 minute maximum exposure time would have a 5% UVB and 95% UVB blend.  Keep in mind when selecting a tanning bed bulb, as the UVB goes up, the bulb becomes more burning or reddening. As the UVB goes down the bulb becomes more bronzing or browning.

When to change the bulbs in your tanning bed or sunbed

Most manufacturers recommend changing their bulbs when they reach around 70% of their original value as read on a UV light meter.  Conventional thought is that if the manufacturer says the bulb is good for 1000 hours, most owners will change the bulbs at the 700 hour mark if they do not have a UV light meter.

UV Light Meters

A UV Light meter is used to measure the UV output of a tanning bed bulb and can be purchased at most tanning supply providers.  The concept of working with a UV light meter is to first measure “baseline” data when the bed and bulbs are brand new and everything is dust free, etc.  Measure the same point 1 inch from both the top and bottom acrylic and record in a notebook.  Then, on a monthly basis, record the value and continue to monitor the UV light level until it reaches 70% of original value and then replace the bulbs!

A UV light meter is also a great way to see the improvement of tanning bed bulb strength after the bulbs and acrylics have been clean and serviced.

Tanning Bed Bulb Manufacturers

Wolff tanning lamps

Several companies continue to license the Wolff name and use their lamps because of the name recognition, although this has steadily diminished over the years as other lamp builders have created lamps that are arguably as good as or better. Licensing is not required to use Wolff lamps, but it is required to call a tanning bed a "Wolff System" and use the Wolff System logo, a yellow circle with horizontal bars and the name "Wolff Systems" in black. Tanning beds that use Wolff products but do not pay royalties can use only the term "Powered by Wolff," which is unique in the industry.

UV Light Meters