Planet Fitness Tanning Goggles: Borrow Or Buy?

Planet Fitness offers tanning beds that emit UV-A and UV-B rays to tan your skin. To protect your eyes from the harmful lights of the tanning beds, it is recommended to use eye protection such as goggles or eye stickers. While Planet Fitness does not loan tanning goggles, they are available for purchase at most locations, typically for $3 to $5. Some Planet Fitness gyms may offer free eye stickers, but these provide less protection than goggles. To ensure your safety, it is recommended to bring your own tanning goggles.

Planet Fitness Tanning Goggles Availability

Tanning goggles are essential when using a tanning bed to protect your eyes from UV-A and UV-B rays, which can cause long-term damage to your eyesight. While Planet Fitness does not loan out tanning goggles, you can purchase them at most Planet Fitness locations for around $3 to $5. Some Planet Fitness gyms may also offer them for free. Since Planet Fitness gyms are independently owned, availability varies from location to location. Therefore, it is recommended that you bring your own tanning goggles to ensure eye protection during your tanning session.

Planet Fitness staff members will ask to see your tanning goggles before you use the tanning beds, as eye protection is required for your safety. If you do not have the proper eyewear, they will typically sell you what you need. Most Planet Fitness gyms will also offer eye stickers for free, but these offer less protection than goggles.

To use the tanning beds at Planet Fitness, you must be 18 or older and have a Black Card membership, which costs $24.99 per month. With this membership, you can tan once every 24 hours, and there is no additional cost for using the tanning beds. Availability depends on the hours of operation of your local Planet Fitness gym, and you must check in with staff before accessing the tanning beds.

It is important to note that tanning beds can cause long-term skin damage, and members are expected to be aware of the associated risks. To minimize these risks, Planet Fitness recommends cleaning the tanning beds before and after each use, as staff members may not always have time to do so. Additionally, it is crucial to follow the recommended tanning duration, which is typically 9-10 minutes for stand-up beds and 12 minutes for lay-down beds.

Tanning Goggle Alternatives

Tanning goggles are essential when using a tanning bed to protect your eyes from the UV rays emitted by the bed, which can damage your eyes and cause early eyesight issues. Planet Fitness recommends that members use eye protection when using their tanning beds, and while some locations offer tanning goggles for free or for a small charge, others do not. Therefore, it is a good idea to bring your own tanning goggles.

If you do not have access to tanning goggles, there are several alternatives you can use to protect your eyes when tanning:

Eye Stickers

Most Planet Fitness gyms offer eye stickers for free. These are not as protective as goggles, but they can help shield your eyes from the tanning lights. They are also easy to carry around, disposable, and cheap. Eye stickers are also available to purchase online.

Winkies

Winkies are see-through tanning stickers that fit seamlessly on the corners of your eyes, providing optimum anti-UV light eye protection without taking up too much space on your face. They are lightweight and disposable, making them easy to carry around in your purse.

Snow Goggles

Snow goggles can also be used as an alternative to tanning goggles.

It is important to note that while these alternatives can provide some protection, they may not offer the same level of protection as a proper pair of tanning goggles. If you plan on tanning regularly, it is recommended to invest in a good pair of goggles specifically designed for tanning.

Tanning Session Duration

The duration of your tanning session will depend on your skin type, tanning experience, and tanning goals. It's important to remember that moderation is key, and you should stick to the recommended frequency and duration for your skin type.

If you are new to tanning beds, it is recommended to start with shorter sessions of 5-7 minutes to avoid overexposure and see how your skin reacts. You can then gradually increase the time as your skin builds tolerance. For example, if you have Type 1 skin, which burns very easily, you should start with sessions of one to three minutes and repeat this for several weeks until you build a light base tan. If you have Type 2 skin, you can start with sessions of two to four minutes, repeating this for about two weeks. For Type 3 skin, you can start with longer tanning times of four to eight minutes for the first two weeks. For Type 4 skin, you can begin tanning at about four to nine minutes, and for Type 5 skin, you can start anywhere between four and ten minutes.

The frequency of your tanning sessions will also depend on your skin type. Beginners should start with 2-3 sessions per week, and once you've achieved your desired tan, maintenance sessions of 1-2 times per week are usually enough. For those with Type VI skin, which is dark brown to black, longer sessions of up to 10 minutes and more frequent visits of 3-4 times a week may be possible. However, it's important to remember that even if your skin is darker and less prone to burning, you are still at risk of overexposure and damage.

Additionally, it's important to note that Planet Fitness allows Black Card members to tan once every 24 hours, and the time limits for the tanning beds may vary depending on the location and type of bed chosen. Stand-up beds usually have a maximum time of 9-10 minutes, while lay-down beds typically have a maximum time of 12 minutes.

Tanning Safety Concerns

Tanning, whether indoors or outdoors, is dangerous and can lead to skin cancer and premature ageing. Tanning beds are not safer than the sun and can increase the risk of developing skin cancer, including squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma. The risk of developing melanoma is increased by 75% if you start using indoor tanning beds before the age of 35.

The use of tanning beds can also cause serious injuries, with people being treated in emergency rooms for burns, loss of consciousness, and eye injuries. The lights from tanning beds can damage your eyes over time, leading to early eyesight issues. It is important to always use eye protection when using a tanning bed, such as tanning goggles or eye stickers.

To reduce the risk of skin damage and cancer, it is recommended to tan sparingly and with caution. This includes limiting the frequency of tanning and adhering to the recommended time limits for tanning beds. It is also important to clean the tanning bed before and after each use, as there is no guarantee that it has been sanitized from the previous user.

Additionally, tanning can cause permanent darkening of the skin, dark spots, wrinkles, and a leathery texture. It is a visible signal of damage that accelerates the appearance of ageing. Tanning is caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which breaks down the collagen and elastin fibers in healthy young skin.

Overall, tanning is a significant safety concern, and it is essential to be aware of the risks involved and take precautions to protect your health.

Tanning Bed Sanitation

To ensure proper sanitation, members can use a natural cleaner to wipe down the bed. This will prevent surface buildup and blockages of light rays, as well as sanitise the surface to prevent the transfer of microbes between users. A simple and cost-effective option is to make a homemade disinfectant spray using three ingredients: distilled water, vinegar, and essential oils. Distilled water is purified water that has had impurities and contaminants removed. Vinegar, due to its acidity, effectively kills mould, bacteria, and germs. Essential oils, such as tea tree and lemon oil, act as powerful natural deodorisers and disinfectants. Tea tree oil, in particular, is proven to be antimicrobial and antiseptic, providing an organic way to combat bacteria and fungi.

It is recommended to mix these ingredients in a spray bottle, shake well, and store the solution in a convenient place for easy access after each tanning session. This will ensure that the tanning bed is clean and hygienic for the next user.

In addition to sanitation, it is important to prioritise eye protection when using tanning beds. Planet Fitness recommends the use of tanning goggles or eye stickers to shield the eyes from the tanning lights. While eye stickers are offered for free at most Planet Fitness locations, they provide less protection than goggles. Therefore, it is advisable to bring your own tanning goggles to ensure adequate eye protection during your tanning session.

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