Probably one of the biggest advantages of sunbeds, especially over the natural sun, is that they’re controllable. They put users in charge of their level of exposure, which isn’t always possible on sunny days when there is a lack of shade. Today’s sunbeds are designed with integrated safety controls such as built-in timers that automatically power down the appliance following a short session to prevent burning and skin damage and give users more control over their tanning outcomes. You can’t simply turn the sun off!

Another big advantage that sunbeds have over natural sun exposure is that they can often be customised to tailor the light output exactly to your needs. While light from the sun comprises of roughly 95% UVA and 5% UVB, the lamps on some modern sunbeds can be swapped as needed to expose the skin to different forms of light. Collagen-boosting red light tanning is becoming increasingly popular, for example, while green therapy lamps have been shown to help improve the skin’s appearance.

What many people don’t realise is that UV light has the same impact on biological processes regardless of whether it comes from a natural or artificial source. So the health benefits of natural sunlight - a boost in Vitamin D production, reduced inflammation, an improvement in skin conditions, lowered blood pressure, and better heart health, for example - can be replicated through sunbed use. The advantage of this is that these benefits can be maintained over winter when there is less natural UV.

Sunlight has long been known to impact mood. So much so, in fact, that there’s even a medical term for the ‘winter blues’ - seasonal affective disorder - and in some people the symptoms can be severe. Research suggests that sunbeds can mimic the natural mood-boosting qualities of the sun, with studies showing that users typically report feeling less upset, irritable, nervous, jittery, and afraid following a tanning session, while also feeling more positive, more interested, and more engaged in aspects of daily life.