Tanning season is fast approaching, but is your skin up for it? It may not be. Before you start tanning this season, or any season, it's vital that you make sure you're skin is ready. Your tanning attendant is trained to spot worrisome skin conditions that shouldn't be exposed to UV light. However, they can't see all of your skin. So, it's up to you to inspect the rest. Always perform a visual inspection of your skin before you hop into the tanning bed. Following are some troublesome signs to watch out for. 

Skin Rashes, Burns and Irritation

If you have a rash or some other sort of skin irritation, you don't want to get into the tanning bed. This is especially true if you've developed a rash after a few sessions. You see, your body knows when it's received an overdose of UV radiation. In addition to sporting a painful sunburn, your skin may develop a rash referred to as a tanning bed rash. A rash is never good news, and it is a clear indication that you should avoid the tanning bed. 

Skin irritation and burns may become worse if you tan. If your skin is sore, red, inflamed or otherwise not in good shape, don't tan. See your doctor instead.

Diseases, Disorders and Infections

If you have certain diseases or disorders, you shouldn't tan. One of the big ones is melanoma. If you have or have had melanoma, skin cancer, in the past, you shouldn't seek out UV light. Other skin conditions, such as vitiligo, a condition that causes white patches on the skin, can also become worse or more noticeable with sun exposure. Autoimmune diseases, like lupus, can also contribute to the development of painful lesions after sun exposure. 

Infectious diseases, such as ringworm and herpes, should never come into contact with a tanning bed because whoever uses the tanning bed after you may contract it. If you have any suspicious marks, blisters or itchy patches, it's a good idea to have your doctor look at them before you tan. 

In addition, you should check the medicines you take for UV interaction warnings. Many prescription medications can make your skin hypersensitive to the sun, resulting in painful burns after UV exposure. If your medication is on the "no sun" list or if you have certain skin conditions, you don't want to tan. If you do, you may end up making your condition worse or develop painful burns and blisters.