FAQ
How does skin tan
As a tanner, you've probably always been curious about exactly how your skin tans. The process is really quite simple, and works the same whether you tan indoors or outdoors.
Ultra Violet light is the catalyst, and a pigment in your skin called melanin does the rest.
Here's a layman's description of the entire process Tanning takes place in the skin's outermost layer, the epidermis. About five percent of the cells in your epidermis are special cells called melanocytes. When exposed to ultraviolet B (UVB) light (short wave ultraviolet), melanocytes produce melanin-the pigment which is ultimately responsible for your tan. The pinkish melanin travels up through the epidermis and is absorbed by other skin cells. When exposed to ultraviolet A light (UVA) (longer wave), the melanin oxidizes or darkens. This darkening is your skin's way of protecting itself against too much UV light.
Everyone has the same number of melanocytes in their body - about five million. But your heredity dictates how much melanin your body's melanocytes naturally will produce. For example, the skin of African-Americans contains enough melanin to create a black or brown skin color, while the skin of Caucasians has less melanin and is pale.
In order to most effectively avoid overexposure, a tan should be acquired gradually, according to the guidelines prescribed by your tanning salon professional. A sunburn, or erythema, occurs when too much ultraviolet light reaches the skin and disrupts the tiny blood vessels near the skin's surface.
Why does a tan fade
Cells in the epidermis' getinitiative layer (also called the living epidermis) are constantly reproducing and pushing older cells upward toward the horny layer (dead epidermis), where they are sloughed off in about one month. As your skin replaces its cells, the cells laden with melanin are removed. So the tanning process must continue with the new cells.
Why Redder Isn't Better
Many people grow up thinking that if they don't experience a slight red or pinkish tinge after they tan that they didn't "get anything." The truth is that the red or pinkish tinge 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 is 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 tanning and, 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.
Don't 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 suits gone down. It's better to use a sunscreen and to wear protective clothing than to risk over-exposure, which can lead to skin damage.
Is Tanning Healthy
Tanning, the browning of the skin resulting from moderate exposure to ultraviolet light, is only now being properly understood as the skin's ultimate source of protection from a real danger-burning. Burning is the reddening of the skin resulting from over-exposure to ultraviolet light, and should be avoided at all costs.
If tanning truly provides protection from this danger, why then are people constantly being told to stay out of the sun? The answer lies in understanding sunshine.
The sun emits three types of ultraviolet rays. The shorter the ray, the more harmful it becomes. The shortest of the three, UVC, is unable to penetrate the earth's ozone layer. Only UVB and UVA enter the earth's atmosphere, and of these two, the shorter UVB is the ray responsible for burning. UVA, the longest ray, is responsible for tanning.
Outdoors, UVB can reach levels of up to 40 percent, making burning a very real possibility, even for darker skin types. This then poses a real dilemma for those who want to acquire a tan without the dangers inherent in burning-a dilemma that has been solved by the indoor tanning industry.
Indoors, tanning beds emit approximately one-tenth of the UVB experienced outdoors, minimizing the chances of developing a sunburn and the negative consequences that accompany such a condition.
This is great news for those wanting to reap the positive benefits from tanning. Beyond its attractive cosmetic appeal, tanning in moderation has been proven to reduce the risk of developing breast, colon and ovarian cancers. Moderate tanning lowers blood cholesterol levels, strengthens bones and teeth, reduces depression, aids in weight loss, increases immune response and heightens physical performance.
What are the Positive Effects of UV Exposure
Make an informed decision in accordance with your skin type about sun tanning, and enjoy an active, sun-loving, all things in moderation lifestyle.
Nature's Skin Protection - It is commonly known that our natural tanning process provides protection against burning. Unlike some sunscreens, a tan provides reliable, full-spectrum (UVA / UVB) protection from burning. Your natural tan offers protection that doesn't rub, sweat or wear off the way sun screen lotion can.
Prevention of Some Cancers - People who live in regions with more sunlight have been found to have a lower incidence of death from ovarian, breast and colon cancers than those who live in places with less sunlight.
Other Causes of Skin Cancer - High fat diets have been linked to a higher incidence of the most common forms of skin cancer -- non-melanoma. In one medical study, patients with pre-cancerous lesions were found to develop fewer lesions after switching to a low fat diet compared with those who remained on a higher fat diet.
Vitamin D, Osteoporosis Prevention - Sunlight and sun-tanning beds that emit UVB are reliable sources of vitamin D. Vitamin D is necessary for our bodies to use the calcium we get in our diet. This vitamin is found in few foods. One study showed that vitamin D was largely lacking in the fortified milk supply in the U.S. Your skin produces vitamin D naturally when exposed to sunlight. A sunscreen of SPF 8 or higher has been found to disable and halt the skin's ability to produce vitamin D.
Seasonal Depression Therapy - Sunlight and simulated sunlight "doses" are a successful treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder, known as the "winter blues." Sunlight exposure has been found to improve low winter moods. Indoor lighting, on the other hand, is generally perceived by the brain as near darkness.
Reduce Symptoms of PMS - Exposure to bright light has been found to help alleviate some symptoms of Pre Menstrual Syndrome, such as mild depression and mood swings, irritability, physical discomfort, and social withdrawal.
A Strong Biological Clock For Optimal Health - Having well-synchronized circadian rhythms, or biological clock, results in a better quality sleep, daytime alertness, and optimal health in general. The more sunlight exposure you get during the day, the more in-sync with your environment your circadian rhythms will be.
Psoriasis Treatment - Exposure to UV-light is commonly prescribed by doctors to alleviate the unsightly appearance and discomfort of psoriasis. Drugs such as psoralens have been developed to work in conjunction with UV-light treatments. Those with psoriasis should consult their doctor before proceeding with any treatment program.
Jet Lag Prevention - "Doses" of sunlight or simulated sunlight timed carefully upon arrival in a new time zone, can re-set your body's biological clock resulting in less day time drowsiness and better quality nighttime sleep.