Does Crunch Fitness Have Tanning?

Yes, Crunch Fitness has tanning at many locations, but it is generally included only with the Peak Results membership, not Base or Peak. 

If you want to know which membership includes tanning, its health and safety risks, benefits, and other gyms with tanning beds, this article covers it all. 

Read on to learn what Crunch offers and what you should know before using a tanning bed.

If you’re wondering whether Crunch Fitness offers tanning, the answer is yes! According to Crunch Fitness’s website, many of their locations provide tanning services. However, not all memberships include this feature. 

Tanning beds may seem like a convenient way to get a tan, but they carry serious health risks. 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns that UV exposure from tanning beds can cause sunburn, premature aging, and even skin cancer. 

When your skin is exposed to UV rays, cells are damaged, causing redness, peeling, and long-term effects like leathery skin or dark spots. 

Harvard research highlights that tanning beds emit mostly UVA rays up to three times stronger than natural sunlight, increasing the risk of DNA damage and eye injuries. 

Health authorities stress that while no tanning is completely safe, protective measures, such as wearing specialized UV-blocking goggles, following recommended session times, and knowing your skin type, can reduce harm. 

International guidelines also limit tanning bed use for minors, with countries like Australia banning it entirely and many European nations enforcing strict age restrictions. 

• Hydromassage Beds: Available at most Crunch locations. Included only in Peak and Peak Results memberships (not in Base).
  
  

• Red Light Therapy: Offered only at Crunch Signature locations. Requires the All Crunch membership plan.
  
  

• Massage Chairs / HydroMassage®: Crunch doesn’t offer massage chairs but provides HydroMassage® with Peak Results membership. Not included in Base or Peak plans.
  
  

• Zumba Classes: Available at many locations as part of group fitness. Included only with Peak and Crunch Signature memberships.

Tanning beds can increase the body’s vitamin D levels, though the effects vary. Research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that participants who used tanning beds had serum 25(OH)D levels nearly 90% higher than those who didn’t, highlighting a significant boost. 

Similarly, studies in the Dermato-endocrinology Journal demonstrated that regular sunbed use over several weeks raised vitamin D levels, especially in individuals starting with lower baseline levels. 

Artificial UVB exposure was even reported to be up to eight times more efficient at generating vitamin D compared to natural sunlight. 

However, health experts, including the American Academy of Dermatology, warn that tanning beds carry serious risks, such as skin cancer and premature aging, and there is no truly safe exposure time. 

For most people, safer ways to maintain vitamin D include short, sensible sun exposure, vitamin D-rich foods like fatty fish or fortified dairy, and supplements, which provide the benefits without the high risks associated with tanning beds.

Some people feel calmer and more uplifted after using a tanning bed, and research helps explain why. 

Findings highlighted in the BMC Dermatology Journal show that volunteers exposed to UVA light reported feeling more balanced, less nervous, and more satisfied with their appearance after several sessions, even though the boost in serotonin seen early on didn’t fully explain the long-term mood changes. 

Other research, noted by the Health Psychology Research Journal, shows that indoor tanning can temporarily reduce negative feelings like nervousness or irritability, suggesting a short-term calming effect. 

However, it’s important to remember that tanning beds don’t work like natural sunlight when it comes to mood or seasonal affective disorder. 

Sunlight, and proper light-therapy boxes, help regulate the body’s internal clock through visible light entering the eyes, something UV-based tanning beds cannot do. 

So while tanning beds may offer a brief sense of relaxation, they are not a safe or effective substitute for real sunlight or clinically recommended light therapy.

A tanning bed gives your skin a warmer, even tone. It makes dull skin look brighter and adds a natural glow. 

A light tan can hide small wrinkles and blemishes, making the skin look smoother. With regular sessions, your skin tone looks balanced and refreshed.

Tanning beds help build a base tan that increases melanin in the skin. Melanin offers natural protection against sunburn. 

Starting a few weeks before outdoor activity helps your skin adjust to sunlight. Repeated sessions can improve sun tolerance and reduce the risk of burning.

The warmth of a tanning bed relaxes muscles and eases tension. The quiet space helps you clear your mind and recharge. 

The gentle heat and glow can lift your mood and reduce stress. It’s an easy way to unwind and take a break from daily pressures.

Tanning beds can help improve certain skin conditions. Psoriasis patches often calm with controlled tanning, and eczema symptoms like redness and itching can ease with UV light. 

Tanning may also support vitiligo by helping skin regain some color. For those with acne, mild tanning can reduce inflammation and improve skin appearance. 

Gentle sessions can relieve eczema-related itching and sometimes prevent flare-ups, helping skin stay healthier.