Q I want a sunbed tan for a big event. Are two six-minute sessions better than an eight-minute one?

Gemma, Aberdeen

Sunburn and UVA light are directly linked to melanomas, so any sunburn should be avoided. Personally, I would recommend fake tans over a sunbed and there are plenty of great ones available. Lancôme Flash Bronzer Self-Tanner (£20, www.lancome.co.uk) is a non-transferable, quick-dry gel that is absorbed easily and won’t end up on your clothes. Alternatively, Fake Bake caters for all skin tones (from £24.95, www.fakebake.co.uk).

If you insist on using a sunbed, try to avoid going pink as this is an indication of damage to your skin cells. For untanned skin, the Sunbed Association (www.sunbedassociation.org.uk) recommends starting off with a three-minute session and, providing this doesn’t result in redness, then a six-minute session. Assuming you already have a base tan, the two six-minute sessions would be advisable, as they won’t result in sunburn in your case. However, the Sunbed Association always advises leaving at least 24 hours between each session.

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