Vitamin D is a nutrient that many people today are deficient in, mainly because they do not get enough sun exposure.
Keep in mind that appropriate sun exposure is the best way to ensure that your body produces enough vitamin D, which is why you should make it a habit to go out into the sun for several minutes every day.
Unfortunately, there are some people who have limited access to sunshine all year long.
This is mostly due to their location, as many non-tropical regions receive very small amounts of sunlight.
Some people also fail to get enough sunlight because they mostly spend their time indoors.
The good news is that there are alternative methods to get vitamin D.
One is by using a safe tanning bed.
Tanning beds, also known as sunbeds, are machines that imitate the ultraviolet (UV) radiation produced by the sun, allowing your skin to generate an artificial tan.
Most people use tanning beds for cosmetic reasons, but it is also highly useful for vitamin D production and is recommended for people who do not have time to go out in the sun every day.
There are many tanning salons available today that you can go to.
But before you choose one, here are a few considerations you must keep in mind:

• Make sure the salon uses safe tanning beds.
  Find a tanning bed that creates more UVB than UVA.
  UVBs are the type you need to create vitamin D naturally, while UVA rays penetrate your skin deeper, leading to more negative effects on your health.
  Also make sure that tanning bed uses electronic ballasts as opposed to magnetic ballasts, which can expose you to excessive electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure, leading to severe effects on your health.
  One sign that your tanning bed has magnetic ballasts is if it produces a loud buzzing noise.
  
• Check the cleanliness of the salon.
  Ask to see their beds and tanning areas.
  Is everything clean? Are the tanning beds free of any dirt, especially the parts where the glass meets the edge of the bed? You should also ask what kind of cleaner they use on the beds and if they wipe down the beds in between clients.
  

Once you've found a tanning salon that meets these requirements, take note of these tanning reminders:

• Wear goggles.
  These will protect not only the delicate skin around your eyes, but your vision as well.
  Sunglasses are not recommended, as they will not fully protect you.
  Use only the safety goggles provided by the salon.
  
• Ask a staff member to teach you how to operate the tanning bed.
  Find out what all the buttons do, and how to shut it off.
  
• Avoid prolonged tanning.
  You only need to tan for a few minutes, until your skin turns a light shade of pink.
  Excessive tanning can cause painful sunburn and damage your skin.
  
• Wipe yourself off with the towel provided after tanning.
  Salons also provide a smaller towel to wipe off any sweat from the bed.
  Do this as a courtesy to the salon staff members and to the next user.
  
• Don't shower directly after tanning.
  Remember, the vitamin D3 that forms on the surface of your skin does not immediately penetrate your bloodstream, and needs several hours before being absorbed in your body.
  Instead, shower before your tanning session, and then bathe the next day.