How The Skin Tans...
Let’s look at the two wave lengths of light that we deal primarily
with in tanning.
UVA is found in the region between
320 and 400 nm and is the least powerful wavelength band of UV radiation.
UVA acts primarily to cause the melanin pigments in the skin to oxidize
(darken) creating the cosmetic tan and has limited power to cause
sunburn.
UVB is found in the region between 280 and 320 nm.
It comprises the wavelengths primarily associated with sunburn, is
also necessary for the production of vitamin D in the skin and is
primarily responsible for stimulating increased melanin production.
UVB wavelengths (at 305 nm) have 1,000 times more potential to sunburn
you than UVA wavelengths. Read
more....
Positive Effects of
UV Exposure
Research Links Indoor Tanning with Vitamin D Production.
A study in the December 2004 issue of The American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition [Vol. 80, No. 6 pp.1645-1649] concludes
that “the regular use of a tanning bed that emits vitamin D-producing
ultraviolet light is associated with higher vitamin D concentrations.”
Vitamin D and sun exposure have been linked
to lower incidence of many internal cancers, most notably breast cancer.
A study published in 1999 by the Northern California Cancer Center confirmed
that women who receive regular sun exposure are 30-40 percent less likely
to develop breast cancer than those who do not. Read
more....
Photosensitivity
Photosensitivity is typically defined as a chemically induced alteration
in the skin that makes a person more sensitive to light. Photosensitive
reactions can fluctuate from mild to chronic depending on the sensitivity
of the individual. It is an adverse skin reaction (dermatitis) to certain
substances in the presence of ultraviolet light. Photosensitizers may
cause sunburn, rashes, itching, scaling or inflammation and act to decrease
tolerance to ultraviolet light and, therefore, increase sensitivity
to UVR. There are numerous factors that determine how a photosensitizer
will react. An item, which causes a severe reaction in one person, may
not cause but a minimal reaction in another person. Also an individual
who experiences a photosensitive reaction on one occasion may not necessarily
experience it again. Everyday items such as perfumes, soaps, artificial
sweeteners, tattoos and certain foods may cause photosensitivity. Please
click on the medication link to see a list created by the Food and Drug
Administration. This gives you the most recent list available of medications
known to cause photosensitivity. Please refer to the list below and
we highly recommend that you consult your physician prior to tanning
if you are taking any of the “high probability” items in
the list. It is also wise to significantly reduce your session time
temporarily if you are taking any items on the list until it can be
determined whether or not it will cause you to experience a photosensitivity
reaction. Click here for
printable PDF article on photsensitivity.
Tanning FAQs
What about Melanoma Skin Cancer?
Melanoma is the only form of skin cancer that is aggressive with any
regularity. But you need to understand this clearly: Melanoma skin cancer
does not fit the mold of other skin cancers for the following reasons:
1. Melanoma is more common in people who work indoors
than in those who work outdoors.
2. Melanoma most commonly appears on parts of the body that do not receive
regular exposure to sunlight.
Heredity, fair skin, an abnormally high number
of moles on one's body (above 40) and a history of repeated childhood
sunburns have all been implicated as potential risk factors for this
disease. But because people who receive regular exposure to sunlight
get fewer melanomas, blanket statements that ultraviolet light causes
melanoma cannot be made. Indeed, some studies have found that an individual's
genetic susceptibility to sunburn, and not the actual sunburn incidence
itself, is the risk factor. Further, most studies on indoor tanning
have not shown a statistically significant connection between commercial
use of tanning equipment and an increased risk of melanom
That is important, considering that most of
the studies did not account for confounding variables such as outdoor
exposure to sunlight, childhood sunburns, type of tanning equipment
utilized and duration and quantity of exposures. (What's more, European
studies on this topic do not account for regulations in place in the
United States governing maximum exposure times for people of all skin
types.)
So the professional indoor tanning industry is doing its part to help
individuals of all skin types minimize their risks by teaching them
how to avoid sunburn at all costs. We are promoting smart, moderate
tanning for those individuals who can develop a tan.
How Do You Define Moderate Tanning?
The term "moderate tanning" means something different for
every different individual, and that is an important point. The bottom
line - what we call "The Golden Rule of Smart Tanning" - is
simple: Don't EVER sunburn. A fair-skinned, red-headed, green-eyed person
may not have the ability to develop a tan without sun burning. This
person should not attempt to tan then. On the other hand, most of us
have the ability to develop a tan, and the majority of us tan very easily.
Moderation, in our view, means avoiding sunburn at all costs. Going
about that agenda will mean something different to every different person.
What's the Best Way to Tan?
There are three basic ways to get a tan - outdoor
tanning, indoor salon tanning and sunless tanning.
Tanning Basics will help you explore these three
tanning options, deliver helpful tanning information and help you decide
what your personal tanning preference may be.
Before you begin your exploration of tanning options,
we highly recommend you determine your skin type. This information is
essential to making smart tanning decisions for your personal skin care
needs.
Many people prefer the method of indoor tanning to acquire a tan. It
is easy, convenient and private. It is administered in a controlled
environment with measured dosages and eliminates much of the "guesswork"
of tanning outdoors.
Ideally, indoor tanning is also supervised by a trained
professional whose primary goal is to help you achieve the desired color
you want and help you avoid over-exposure. California Tan's mission
is to help salon professionals obtain the training and expertise to
help you enjoy the positive effects of moderate tanning.
The tanning salon you visit should conduct an evaluation
of your skin type to determine your recommended personal UV exposure
time. They should also remind you to wear protective goggles, encourage
the use of a lotion (before and after tanning), and recommend the appropriate
lotions to use. As a consumer, you should be selective when choosing
a tanning salon, making sure that it is a professional establishment
that follows responsible practices.
Today, all sun-beds and tanning booths used in salons are regulated
by the F.D.A as Class II Medical Devices. This means you only get a
standardized amount of UV exposure with a mixture of both UVB and UVA
rays designed to minimize burning.
By attaining a healthy-looking tan, you can look
more fit and slimmer.
22 million U.S. consumers tan at salons every year
and there are approximately 24,000 tanning salons listed in the yellow
pages.
(Source: http://www.coolnurse.com/tanning.htm)
The controlled environment and the ability to time
your UV exposure to the minute makes burning less likely with a tanning
bed than with outdoor sun exposure.
Why Does Tan Fade?
The cells in the germ layer are constantly reproducing and pushing older
cells upward toward the upper layer (horny layer). About every four
weeks this layer is sloughed off taking with it the cells laden with
melanin. This is why the tanning process must continue to maintain your
desired tone. --- Back to Top
Why Indoor Tanning?
Indoor tanning is considered “Smart Tanning” and has its
advantages compared to outdoor tanning. The Food and Drug Administration
has developed stringent rules and regulations that govern the manufacture
and use of indoor tanning devices. Here are some of the advantages:
Indoor tanning offers a predictable tanning environment controlled by
timers that ensure the accuracy of your tanning session. FDA regulated
tanning equipment gives you carefully formulated and controlled mixture
of Ultraviolet light. You can achieve a beautiful year-round tan in
the comfortable setting of our tanning salon. Like a personal trainer,
our professionally trained staff will evaluate your skin type and offer
the most productive tanning session available to reach your tanning
potential. Rain or shine, you can achieve that beautiful golden tan
at your convenience.
What causes white spots?
There are many reasons for white spots. The following are some of
the more commonly known reasons for white spots and what can be done
to even out the color of the skin. One reason for white spots is vitiligo.
Usually these spots are fewer in number and larger in size. The melanocyte
cells in the affected area are beginning to degenerate and die off.
Treating these spots requires medical attention.
Another reason for white spots is a scalp fungus known as tinea versicolor.
This microscopic fungus flakes off of the scalp on to the upper body,
just like dandruff, and remains unnoticed until a person starts to tan.
Home remedies for these problem spots include shampoos like extra strength
Head and Shoulders and extra strength Selsun Blue. Some tanning lotion
manufacturers also have made a lotion to help eliminate these stubborn
spots.
Skin needs three things in order to help it tan—
UVA, UVB and oxygen. No oxygen, no tanning occurs. In the initial stages
of tanning, oxygen comes from the bloodstream underneath the skin. The
pressure created on certain spots of the body from laying on the acrylic
sheet constricts blood flow – that means little or no oxygen,
and little or no tanning. By the way, this kind of white spot can happen
to anyone who lies still on the acrylic sheet. Body size is not the
deciding factor. The remedy? Move. A person doesn’t need to roll
over on the acrylic to do this. Those suffering from white spots on
their back side should use the flat part of their right forearm and,
if needed, the flat part of their right foot to raise up one side of
the body from the acrylic sheet. Give your skin a chance to breathe.
Lower that side, and then raise the other and do the same thing. Tanners
might have to do this two or three times a session to maintain good
circulation, but this practice should eliminate those white spots.
How often should I replace my lamps?
That depends on both the rated life and the lamps’ performance.
Many salon owners like to change their lamps anywhere from 50 to 70
percent of the lamps’ rated life. Tanning salons, by necessity,
overstress lamps beyond what they were designed to do. Lamps are turned
on and off frequently, wearing down the filament. Lamps operate under
extreme temperature conditions. (Too much heat reduces the effective
UV output during the session. It also reduces overall lamp life.) Ideally,
the glass tube shouldn’t be much hotter than 105 degrees Fahrenheit.
Reducing the temperature below that depends on equipment design and
the salon’s method of cooling and ventilation. However, reducing
lamp stress by keeping the lamps reasonably cool translates into greater
service that those lamps can provide.
Does tanning indoors have the same effect
as tanning outdoors?
The answer to this question really lies in two parts. First, the
vehicle of tanning, whether indoors or outdoors, is ultraviolet light.
So while the source that produces ultraviolet rays may be different,
the means of tanning is identical. Second, the intended goal, or effect,
is the same, but with indoor tanning you have a better chance of getting
the exact effect you want. Outdoor tanning uses an uncontrolled environment
to achieve the desired effect. You might think of it this way. Tanning
can be loosely compared to drinking water. You can quench your thirst
with a glass of water. (This would be the equivalent of indoor-controlled
tanning.) In some respects, outdoor tanning might be like trying to
quench your thirst with a fire hose. You’ll get at least what
you want, but the lack of control will probably result in getting far
more than you need.
Sometimes after tanning I itch, but I’m
not burned. What causes this “itchy” sensation and how can
I cure it?
Scratching does wonders (just kidding). The primary reason(s) for that
tanning itch is dry and/or overheated skin. To cool the skin, try using
a spray bottle with water in it. Itching can usually be relieved with
a good skin moisturizer. Your favorite tanning lotion manufacturer will
have a great product with extra moisturizing ingredients in it.
Could you to help clarify for me what the
difference is between melanocytes, melanosomes and melanin?
The simplest way to describe this is to say that melanocytes produce
cell bodies called melanosomes. Melanosomes contain the pigment granule
melanin. So UVB stimulates melanocytes to produce those melanosomes
and UVA helps to darken melanin contained inside melanosomes.
Does shaving remove a tan?
The epidermis (uppermost section of skin) replaces itself once every
28 to 30 days. The outermost portion of the epidermis, which is ready
to shed, also has melanin. That melanin will tan just like the melanin
buried deeper in the epidermis. When a person showers or shaves, it
sometimes seems like his or her tanning progress is going backward.
However, the loss would have occurred anyway; natural grooming speeded
up the process. A person shouldn’t get discouraged though. If
he or she is tanning, ultraviolet light exposure is generating lots
of new melanin that will overcome the loss.
Tanning Myths
MYTH
"I've heard that indoor tanning is more harmful than tanning outdoors
because the UV light exposure is more intense."
FACT
People tanning indoors are exposed to a scientifically calibrated amount
of UV light. When used according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's
exposure guidelines (posted on each machine), tanning beds are designed
to maximize tanning and minimize burning. Conversely, tanning outdoors
is an unregulated environment. There are many factors that have to be
considered when you tan outdoors: geography, time of day, weather conditions,
the seasons, and the ozone layer. Remember the best way to safeguard
yourself from sun damage is to wear appropriate levels of SPF sunscreens
outdoors - even if you already have a tan. You should also know that,
even with sunscreen protection, UV exposure can still lead to skin cancer
and premature aging, even if you don't burn.
MYTH
"My friend said she heard that tanning bakes your internal organs.
Sometimes I notice a strange smell after I tan. Could this be my organs
baking?"
FACT
The UV light from a sun bed is similar to UV light from the sun, and
cannot penetrate deeper than the skin to harm internal organs. The odor
you may notice is what's commonly known as the "after tan"
odor, a common occurrence when tanning indoors or outdoors, which is
caused by harmless bacteri California Tan lotions contain the Biosaccharide
Complex, which helps prevent after tan odor.
MYTH
"I have been told from several of my friends that showering directly
after tanning will "wash" your tan away. They say its best
to wait about 3 hours after tanning to shower."
FACT
Taking a shower after tanning will not wash your tan away. A natural
tan takes 24-48 hours to develop. The tanning process occurs within
the epidermis when melanocyte cells are stimulated by ultraviolet light
that causes them to produce the pigment melanin. Melanin production
results in the tanned appearance of the skin and is the skin's natural
defense against the sun and over-exposure, i.e. sun-burning. Melanin
travels to the surface, where it eventually flakes off. This process
allows us to develop new skin every four to eight weeks. Keeping your
skin hydrated and exfoliated will help maintain a more radiant and healthy-looking
tan.
MYTH
"My friend told me I should stop tanning because I could get a
sexually transmitted disease like AIDS from the tanning bed."
FACT
The National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have stated
that this is physically impossible. The AIDS virus (as well as other
serious viral diseases) does not live outside the body. This fear may
come from the fact than many people lay nude in sun beds during their
tanning session (in order to eliminate tan lines). However, even if
there is profuse sweating, the AIDS virus, or other venereal diseases,
cannot be passed to the next user. Additionally, tanning salons are
required by law to disinfect the acrylic liner in the tanning bed between
each use.
MYTH
"I heard that in order to get a suntan you have to burn first."
FACT
A sunburn does not fade into a tan. A sunburn indicates over exposure
to UV-light and actually damages the skin, leaving it inflamed (as indicated
by the skin's red coloring and sensitivity), dry, chapped and visibly
unappealing. In fact, a sunburn can lead to premature aging and potentially
skin cancer. Always practice moderation when tanning and use the proper
sunscreen protection when tanning outdoors and the proper exposure time
that is recommended for your personal skin type when tanning indoors.
MYTH
"All skin types tan or burn in the same amount of time."
FACT
Not all skin types are alike. Some people tan more easily than others
or burn more easily than others. For example, a Skin Type 1 person with
fair skin, red hair and freckles will burn easily, resulting in peeling
and blistering without any indication that he or she has tanned. On
the other hand, a Skin Type 4 person with dark hair and olive skin will
tan very well and quite easily even with a minimal amount of sun exposure.
It is important to know: repeated exposure of unprotected skin while
tanning may increase the risk of skin aging, skin cancer and harmful
effects to the skin even if you don't burn.
MYTH
"People with medium to dark skin never burn."
FACT
Although people with medium to darker skin tend to tan more
easily than others, they can still get sunburns. They can also suffer
from overexposure to UV-light. It is still important for these skin
types to use sunscreens and avoid being in the sun longer than they
need to be.
Also Visit: Tanningtruth.com to rediscover the sun.
