rich has given some very good advise paul, i would take note of it
then you get the silly fucker like me who go a over board on them
i usually do 3 months of tanning and then take 3 off and so on ( this is way way to much, even do that here in australia, lol )
when i start back on them i never go longer than 10mins a session for the first week, 12mins the second week and then on to my usual 16mins ( do 3 times a week )
you dont have to use tanning lotions but its a good idea if you want a deeper tan, as 70% of the uv's are reflected away from you if you dont.
i person like to use swedish beauty chocolate silk which is the strongest non bronzing non tingle cream
bronzing creams do as they say ( bit like fake tanning lotions )
tingle creams bring the blood vessels to the top of the skin, you can go red with the strongest of these without going on the bed at all ( it dont tan you though, just makes you red for an hour or so, lol ) i dont like the feeling of these creams at all.
and remember never use a tanning lotion as a sun block, there not, they enchance the uv's to you, well unless you want to look like aj