Used refurbished commercial tanning bed or used home tanning beds can provide a great value. The prices on used tanning beds can represent a substantial investment so it is a good idea to pick the features you want in a new bed and price it before purchasing a used bed based on the prices on used tanning beds.

Residential tanning beds are regularly marketed with claims of being significantly safer than outdoor tanning. In fact, studies demonstrate that indoor tanning varies little in the havoc that it may or not wreak on your skin. After all, tanning beds are dependent on the ultraviolet rays that originate from the sun. The wonderful world of online shopping, with sites like Ebay and Shopping.com at the driver's seat, purchasing tanning beds for your residence has become as easy as one, two, three. Couple that with the convenience of tanning in the privacy of your own home, and the prospects of having a used tanning bed camped out in that unused corner of the basement starts looking pretty sweet. But before you start checking out prices on used tanning beds, check out some of the things that you need to know about indoor tanning.

Things To Consider Before Buying a Used Tanning Bed

Tanning is the process of the skin producing more color than usual in an effort to protect itself from burns at the hands of ultraviolet (UV) rays. Overexposure to ultraviolet rays has been cited to can eye damage, like cataracts, premature wrinkles, skin rashes caused by light, and a elevated risk of developing skin cancer. Since their commercial introduction in the late seventies, Plexiglas tanning beds have gone on to become the most popular device in tanning salons of the world. Back then, lots of tanning beds, also commonly known as sunbeds, emitted the ultraviolet rays in shortwire (UVB) which ended up causing burns to the skin.

After discovering the kinks in the UVB system, owners of tanning studios began investing in tanning beds that use longwave ultraviolet light sources (UVA) rays. UVA rays are documented to have a lower likelihood of causing skin burns, however UVA rays are believed to have links to skin cancer and even damage to the immune system. Today, clamshell-shaped tanning bedswork while a user is lies down on the surface. Ultraviolet lights are emitted from above and below the surface of the tanning bed.

The Food and Drug Administration, in cooperation with the Federal Trade Commission, share the responsibility of regulating tanning lamps and booths, in addition to tanning beds. So prior to researching prices on used tanning beds, which sometimes don't deviate that greatly from the price of a brand new tanning bed, stay abreast of some the suggestions of the Food and Drug Administration. For example, wearing protective eye googles can help protect your eyes from the UVA rays emitted from your tanning bed.

Checklist for Buying a Used Tanning Bed

Think of buying a used tanning bed as you would think of purchasing a used car. There's a device for sale in front of you that had a long life before you showed up, sort of like a significant other. Make it business to find out everything there is to know about the bed. Research the make, model, and year of the tanning bed to be sure that there were no recalls or widespread problems with that particular model. And don't be afraid to get into a Q&A session with the tanning bed's present owner, fortunately tanning bed owners aren't nearly as crafty when it comes to making up stories as used car salesmen. Some question you'll want to ask include:

· Why is the tanning bed on the chopping block?

· How difficult is the bed to get parts for?

· How old is this used tanning bed?

Remember older tanning beds use bulb that are notorious cancer-causers. Newer bulbs are believed to use less harmful lights. Also ask the used bed owner about any existing warranties on the bed. While some tanning beds feature just a one year warranty, others are covered for a lifetime.