Tanning beds help you keep your tan during the gray days of winter. But leave the baby oil at home to prevent sunburn. At a tanning salon, follow the same safety tips as you would for a day at the beach.

Apply an even layer of sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 to your skin before entering the tanning bed.

Don't wear baby oil or tanning lotion containing mineral oil in a tanning bed. Oils do not protect your skin from ultraviolet rays, putting you at risk of sunburn and skin cancer.

You wouldn't forget to bring sunglasses to the beach. Wear goggles in the tanning bed. If you don't know the correct goggles to wear, ask tanning salon workers for assistance.

Drink a 16-ounce glass of water before and after tanning to keep from getting dehydrated. After tanning, apply a rich moisturizer, such as one with shea butter or cocoa butter, to keep your skin from drying out.

If you need another reason to avoid wearing oil while tanning, consider that it can damage the glass surface of the tanning bed.