| Q. What is a base tan, and why is it important? |
| A. Moderate exposure to UVB helps develop a natural
barrier in the skin to protect the body from excessive UV light. In
addition to stimulating the production of melanin, which surrounds
the core of the cells and protects the DNA, exposure to UVB also
slightly thickens the epidermis (top skin layer). It's this
photo-protection (base tan) that absorbs and scatters excessive UV
light and protects us from sunburn. In addition, it's wise to use a
broadband sunscreen if being exposed for a prolonged period of time
to the sun. |
| Q. What is an exposure schedule, and what does
it tell us? |
| A. Extensive testing of indoor tanning equipment is
done by an independent laboratory (required in the United States by
the Food and Drug Administration). An exposure schedule is based on
a person's Minimal Erythemal Dose (MED). A MED is the least amount
of UV exposure a person can receive and generate pigmentation while
still avoiding sunburn. Taking into account the spectral output of a
bed and the tanning capabilities of a particular user's skin type,
the dosage (or length of session) is calculated and recorded in the
exposure schedules that come with all indoor tanning equipment. Most
exposure schedules reflect graduated exposure times: exposure starts
slowly and increases. |
| Q.
What is my skin type, and how will that effect my tanning schedule? |
A. Skin typing is a method for determining one's
natural ability to produce melanin. Skin types are hereditary and
cannot be altered by outside influences. The following chart will
aid you in finding your personal skin type, so that you can plan
your safe tanning schedule accordingly:
| Type |
Reactions to UV |
Example |
| I |
Burns easily and severely, peels, rarely tans |
People with very fair skin, blue eyes, unexposed
skin is nearly white |
| II |
Burns easily and severely, peels, tans somewhat |
People with fair skin, naturally red or blonde
hair, blue, green, or hazel eyes, unexposed skin is very light |
| III |
Burns moderately and tans about average |
Normal average Caucasian of varying hair and eye
colors, unexposed skin is light |
| IV |
Burns minimally, tans easily and quickly |
People with olive or light brown skin, dark hair
and eyes, unexposed skin can be light or light brown
(Mediterranean, Asian, Hispanic, etc) |
| V |
Rarely burns, tans easily and substantially |
Brown skinned persons, unexposed skin is brown
(Natives, Indians, Hispanic, etc) |
| VI |
Never burns and tans profusely |
Very dark brown skinned or black skinned
persons, unexposed skin is also very dark (Blacks, Aborigines,
etc) |
|
| Q.
Should I tan at all? |
| A. Sunlight is absolutely essential to life on
earth. There are various physiological and psychological reasons why
exposure to light is desirable. When having a tan makes you look
better, it makes you feel better, and that alone is a great reason
to tan. |
| Q.
How do I make sure I am tanning correctly? |
| A. All exposure, whether outdoors or indoors,
should be gradual and moderate. It's important that you determine
your proper skin type and the corresponding exposure schedule be
strictly followed. When in doubt, always err on the lesser side of
exposure, you can always increase it slightly later if you are not
getting the results you desire. Be careful of overdoing it and
causing a burn. |
| Q.
How often can I tan? |
| A. The FDA guidelines suggest that a person tanning
wait 48 hours between tanning sessions. Pigmentation or even sunburn
may not be fully visible for 12-24 hours after tanning. If you tan
again too soon, you may unintentionally burn yourself. In general,
if you carefully follow the exposure schedule for your bed, you
should get optimal color within 8-10 sessions. |
| Q.
It's been a while since I've tanned, do I resume the same exposure
time? |
| A. Because the development of pigmentation is a
gradual process and fades over time, a person who stops tanning for
an extended period of time should start from the beginning again.
This means go back to the minimum exposure time according to you
skin type and the exposure schedule and gradually build yourself up
again. |
| Q.
What conditions can make me "photosensitized", therefore
at an increased risk for burn? |
| A. Photosensitivity is defined as a chemically
induced change in the skin that can make it unusually sensitive to
light. The causes can be many, including diseases, allergies,
cosmetics, and some foods, supplements and medicines. In addition,
what may cause photosensitivity in one person may not bother another
person at all. It's prudent to keep aware of the possibility,
research "natural" remedies, and always discuss side effects of any
medications you take with your doctor. |
| Q.
Can I let my teenagers or children tan? |
| A. At this time, there appears to be no biological
reason why teenagers and children should not tan indoors. However,
they should never, ever use tanning equipment without adult
supervision. |
| Q.
I'm pregnant, is it safe for me to continue tanning? |
| A. There is no current scientific or biological
reason why pregnant women cannot tan indoors or outdoors. In fact,
researchers believe the mother and unborn child can benefit from the
production of Vitamin D caused by exposure to UVB. That said, it's
important to note that the heat of the bed may adversely affect some
women just as a sauna or jacuzzi. In addition, a pregnant woman may
not be comfortable lying on her back in the bed - and it has to be
said - may find it difficult to get back up OFF the bed without
assistance. |
| Q.
I've had skin cancer in the past, is it ok for me to tan? |
| A. It is strongly recommended that those who have
had skin cancer in the past to NOT tan either indoors or out. It is
possible such people are genetically predisposed to contract skin
cancer, and any exposure (even light to moderate) may trigger
another outbreak. Instead, you should use a strong broad spectrum
sunscreen when out of doors. |
| Q.
Must protective eyewear be worn while tanning? |
| A. Yes. The FDA requires that protective eyewear
which meets it's transmission specifications be supplied to each
indoor tanner. There is scientific evidence that overexposure to
both UVA and UVB can cause eye damage. Snow blindness is an example
of immediate eye damage, while cataracts is an example of cumulative
damage over time. In addition, it is recommended you wear UV
protective sunglasses when outdoors on bright days. Please note:
sunglasses are not protective enough for indoor tanning, you must
use FDA compliant protective eyewear! |
| Q.
Can I use a tanning accelerator to speed things up? |
| A. There are some substances that, when applied, to
give the impression of rapid color change. It could just be a
self-tanning substance in the lotion, however, some of the
tanning accelerators use substances are actually photosensitizers. In other words, they make
the skin more sensitive to UV light than normal. The result is
faster and more pigmentation. These products should be used with
caution, both because the risk of burn is greater and it allows the
UV to penetrate deeper into the skin. To reduce these risks, always
start off with a base tan for protection before using the
accelerator. The FDA's current position is that no product submitted
to it for testing has proven to accelerate the tanning process
without altering the skin's internal structure. |
| Q.
What does SPF mean? |
| A. SPF stands for "Sun Protection Factor" and is
the standard for measuring a sunscreen's effectiveness in protecting
the skin. The length of time it works for you depends on how long
you can usually be exposed to UV without any protection and still
not get a burn. Then, you take that time and multiply it by a
product's SPF. For example, if you usually can handle 20 minutes of
exposure before burning, and you use a product with an SPF of 15,
you can reasonably assume you can now safely expose yourself to UV
for 300 minutes, or approximately 5 hours. |
| Q.
What is a "broadband" sunscreen? |
| A. It simply means the sunscreen protects against
both UVA and UVB, which is very important. A product that blocks
just one or another will not protect you adequately. |
| Q.
What is the difference between a sunscreen and a sun block? |
| A. Sun blocks are thick opaque formulations that
are often used on localized, sun sensitive areas such as the nose,
lips and ears. One example is zinc oxide. Because they are visible
and messy they are not practical for all over body protection.
Sunscreens on the other hand, have a more pleasing consistency, can
be invisible, and are just all around more convenient. |
| Q.
Are lotions, oils and creams beneficial to the tanning process? |
| A. In order to achieve the best even tan, the skin
should be healthy and moisturized. Dry skin does not tan well and
can cause uneven color. It's particularly important that
before tanning the skin be as clean as possible. The heat from the
lamps are naturally drying to the skin, so you want to combat this
with the use of beneficial applications. |
