A deep, dark tan can add the perception of additional muscle mass to the physique.  Ever see the guest posers who hop up onstage under those bright lights completely white, and look like they’re very fat, even though they might be at 8% body fat?  Bright lights- whether they are from the stage, the sun, or the boardroom – tend to wash out cuts and definition on the very pale athlete.  For this reason, it is important to maintain a nice healthy tan year round whenever possible to best present your bodybuilding physique.

Competition

For competition bodybuilders, nude tanning is essential.  Find a nice tanning salon close to the home or gym, and visit 3-4 times a week.  Since your posing trunks for shows will vary, a full-body tan will be required.  If you do it correctly all year, you’ll be able to nail the contest tan with no problem at all.  For the show, Pro-tan or other reputable product should be used.  Depending upon your level of baseline tan, a little may go a long way.

Non-competition

For those bodybuilders who never plan to step on the bodybuilding stage, having tan lines isn’t a big deal at all.  In addition to the salon, you can tan outdoors wearing a pair of mid-thigh shorts to ensure you get at least half of the quads tanned.   Real sunlight can be just as powerful, or even more powerful, than tanning salons between the hours of 10 am and 2 pm each day.

Health

Getting a tan also has health benefits.  Sunlight is an excellent source of vitamin D, a fat-soluble vitamin, which is essential for good heart health – something every bodybuilder should be concerned about, given the bodyweights we carry and foods we consume. 

Warnings

Don’t tan too fast.  Use protection such as sun block to ensure you tan slowly and don’t present yourself with any unnecessary burn risks.  If you notice any spots, moles, or other abnormalities, get them checked out IMMEDIATELY.  Skin cancer, if caught early, is very easy to treat.  Once it has had time to grow, it can be a virtual death sentence.  Always get spots looked at immediately.