Sorry to send bad news, but tanning beds are just as harmful as tanning outside. For people with vary fair skin who always burn (for example, in less than 15 minutes), no amount of "base tan" is safe.

The best plan is to become comfortable with the color of skin that you were born with; you can't change it. Wear a sunblock with 30 or higher SPF that blocks UVA/UVB rays every time you are in the sun, if not every day. Some tips for making sunblock work better are putting it on 30 minutes before you are in the sun and reapplying it often. Of course, even with sunblock people with certain skin types should avoid prolonged exposure.

Unfortunately, I learned these lessons the hard way--I had my first skin cancer at 23 and continue to struggle with new occurrences. Believe me--If you are concerned about your appearance, the scars from skin-cancer surgery are worse than having pale skin.