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Tanning
101
Tanning
101
Tanning Bed Tips

Whether you tan indoors or outdoors, the process
is the same. Ultraviolet rays stimulate skin cells to produce melanin,
the pigment that makes your skin tan.
There are two types of ultraviolet light rays -- UVA and UVB. Different
indoor tanning beds use different combinations of these two tanning
rays. The standard lay down bed with 100 watt lamps and 30 to 30
min, Tan time. The VHR tanning units can be ether stand up or your
lay down type, 10 min to 20 min. Whatever the combination, your exposure
times are regulated by the federal government to minimize your risk
of sunburn or overexposure.
Tanning
involves following the exposure schedule designed for your skin type
and avoiding sunburn by tanning gradually. To determine
your skin type see chart below.
By controlling the type and amount of UV light you receive in your
bed, there is no doubt that this is the best, smartest place to acquire
a tan. However, there are some precautions you should take to maximize
your enjoyment of your tanning bed.
- Protect your eyes. Simply closing them or wearing outdoor
sunglasses while you tan is not adequate protection against possible
long-term eye injury. Wearing the FDA-compliant eye protection
available at this site can eliminate that risk.
- Protect your lips. They do not produce melanin and will
burn easily unless you protect them with lip balms or sunscreen.
- If you plan to tan in the nude, cover previously unexposed
areas for the majority of your tanning session for the first few
sessions. Gradually increase exposure to these areas, giving the
skin time to build melanin production.
- If you are taking any medications, please check with your
doctor or pharmacist. Some medications can cause reactions with
UV light.
- Moisturize your skin. The heat and light from tanning
sessions can dry your skin. Because moist skin tans best, we recommend
you moisturize before and after each tanning session to get the
most out of each session.
Why Redder Isn't Better
Many people grow up thinking that if they do not
experience a slight red or pinkish tint after they tan that they
did not "get anything." The truth is that the red or pinkish
tint you see is actually sunburn (or erythema) -- your skin's worst
enemy. The fact is that the sunburns we experience due to lack of
information when we are growing up are the very things that lead
to skin damage later in life.
Smart tanners know that the key to avoiding sunburn in moderation
in terms of UV exposure. The best way to ensure a "smart tan" is
to take advantage of the years of research that have gone into tanning
equipment to provide you with a controlled, predictable dosage of
UV light. Also, use lotions to moisturize your skin before and after
tanning. If you do tan outdoors, remember that the sun emits whatever
types of UV rays it wants. Several other environmental factors come
into play with outdoor UV light, making exposure unpredictable.
Do not rely on the color of your skin to tell you when to get out
of the sun. Overexposure isn't evident sometimes until hours after
the sun has gone down. It's better to use a sunscreen and to wear
protective clothing than to risk overexposure, which can lead to
skin damage.
Type |
Skin
Reaction |
Examples |
1 |
Tans little or not at all,
always
burns easily and severely, then
peels. |
People most often with
fair skin, blue eyes, freckles, white unexposed skin. |
2 |
Usually buns easily and
severely (painful burn); tans minimally and lightly;
also peels. |
People with fair skin,
blue or hazel eyes, blonde or red hair, white unexposed
skin. |
3 |
Burns moderately, gains
average tan. |
Average Caucasian, white
unexposed skin. |
4 |
Burns minimally, tans easily
and above average with each
exposure, exhibits IPD
(Immediate Pigment Darkening) reaction. |
People with light or brown
skin, dark brown hair, dark eyes, unexposed skin is
white or light brown (Asians, Hispanics, and Mediterraneans). |
5 |
Rarely burns, tans easily
and substantially, always exhibits IPD reaction. |
Brown-skinned persons,
unexposed skin is brown (East Indians, Hispanics, etc.). |
6 |
Tans profusely and never
burns, exhibits IPD reaction. |
Persons with black skin
(African and African Americans, Australian and South
Indian Aborigines). |
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