We have compiled some frequently asked questions below.
Please let us know if you have any other questions that we can answer, or find the answer for you.
Can tanning indoors cause skin cancer?
Is there no such thing as a safe tan?
Can I catch AIDS or other STD's from a tanning bed?
What do I wear while tanning indoors?
Is indoor tanning riskier than outdoor tanning?
Can you "fry" your internal organs by tanning?
What are white spots?
Why do some people itch after tanning indoors?
What is photosensitivity?
How does indoor tanning exposure compare to the natural sun?
Must protective eyewear be worn while tanning indoors?
How often is a person allowed to tan?
Can indoor lotions be used outdoors?
I want to get a dark tan fast but haven't tanned for a while. What
do you suggest?
How do sunless tanning lotions work?
Why is it important to develop a base tan?
Why does a tan disappear?
Will tanning change the color of my dyed hair?
Will tanning affect my scar?
How can I keep my artificial nails from yellowing?
Do I need to protect my tattoo?
Q. Can tanning indoors
cause skin cancer?
A. Repeated OVERexposure to ultraviolet light has been linked to the development
of certain types of skin cancer in humans. That's why ultraviolet light emission
is carefully controlled in tanning equipment to minimize the risk of
overexposure and sunburn. Overexposure can damage normal skin's cells and cause
dormant pre-cancer cells to divide uncontrollably, which can lead to skin cancer
10 to 20 years after the overexposure occurred. Research indicates that
ultraviolet light is but one of many factors that combine to increase a person's
risk for skin cancer. Other factors include heredity, skin type and nutrition.
Basal-cell and squamous-cell carcinomas, which are the most common of skin
cancers, are believed to be directly linked to ultraviolet light OVERexposure.
Fortunately, these cancers can be easily detected and treated. Melanoma is a
rare form of skin cancer that is still a mystery. It is most common in
fair-skinned people with a family history of melanoma. Though some research
suggests a connection to ultraviolet light, many studies have shown that people
who receive regular sun exposure have less chance of getting melanoma than those
who don't. Also, it is most commonly found on unexposed areas of the body like
the lower trunk and legs.
Q. Is there no such
thing as a safe tan?
A. The word "safe" usually implies that an activity can be engaged in
recklessly, without any fear of injury. Overexposure can result in sunburn and
skin damage. We teach both tanners and non-tanner alike to be intelligent about
their sun exposure. Moderate indoor tanning for individuals who can develop a
tan is the "smartest" way to maximize the potential benefits and minimize the
potential risks associated with either too much or too little sunlight.
Q. Can I catch AIDS or
other STD's from a tanning bed?
A. People cannot contract diseases from properly sanitized, well-maintained
tanning bed or from the clean floors of tanning booths. Disease specialists have
said that no evidence exists to prove that sanitized tanning units have spread
diseases, nor can they spread venereal diseases or AIDS, both of which require
intimate contact to get.
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Q. What do I wear
while tanning indoors?
A. You may wear whatever makes you feel comfortable; shorts, underwear, bathing
suit, or nothing at all! The one potential danger of tanning nude is ultraviolet
overexposure - such as sunburn - of sensitive body parts that normally are not
exposed to ultraviolet radiation. For example, skin on the armpits, back of
legs, buttocks and genitalia can suffer severe sunburn using the same light
intensity that only tans the rest of your body. We suggest that you gradually
expose sensitive body areas to ultraviolet light and that you cover them halfway
through tanning sessions for the first three or four times you tan nude.
Q. Is indoor tanning
riskier than outdoor tanning?
A. No. Indoor tanning clients are exposed to a scientifically controlled dosage
of ultraviolet light carefully formulated to tan you and minimize your risk of
sunburn. That kind of control is impossible outdoors where variables such as
seasonality, time of day, geography, weather conditions, altitude, and the
earths thinning ozone layer make sunburn much more likely. Because sunburn is
the main risk factor for skin damage, it's actually smarter to tan indoors.
Q. Can you "fry" your
internal organs by tanning?
A. No. "The Legend of the Roasted Tanner" is an urban legend. Ultraviolet light
whether from the sun or from a tanning unit does not penetrate past your skin.
It is impossible to "fry" any internal organs in a tanning bed. If you put a raw
piece of meat on a tanning unit for 30 minutes, when you return it will still be
a raw piece of meat.
Q. What are white
spots?
A. There is a couple of reasons why white spots become noticeable on the body
once the tanning process begins. White spots can appear due to a harmless
fungus, which lives on the skin's surface, mainly the scalp, called Tinea
Versicolor. It flakes off of the scalp onto the upper body and absorbs UV light,
which will normally penetrate the skin. This fungus did not appear as a result
of tanning; it merely becomes noticeable once tanning begins. Home remedies for
the spots include shampoos like Selsun Blue or Head and Shoulders.
White patches of skin may also be present on the shoulder blades and just above
the buttocks and are caused by the pressure from the body as it reclines on a
hard acrylic surface. This pressure inhibits the flow of blood through that area
of the skin. Since blood carries oxygen and oxygen is essential to the tanning
process, this area does not tan. Periodic body shifting during tanning will make
these white patches disappear. Also, tanning in a stand-up booth or the message
bed will tan these spots.
Q. Why do some people
itch after tanning indoors?
A. Rashes or itching occurring on the body after ultraviolet light exposure are
not an indication of skin disease, but of dry skin or a photosensitive reaction.
They often are caused by a combination of heat from the tanning lamps, a lack of
sufficient melanin in the skin being tanned and ultraviolet light. Both
irritations usually subside within several days after tanning has stopped.
Q. What is
photosensitivity?
A. Certain chemicals and drugs that by themselves are not injurious to the skin
can cause undesirable reactions when exposed to UV light. Common hazards include
photoallergy and phototoxicity. Some medications may also cause
photosensitivity, please check the labels of all your medication or consult your
pharmacist.
Q. How does indoor
tanning exposure compare to the natural sun?
A. Your skin produces a tan the same way it does when you tan indoors or
outdoors. It is difficult to make a simple comparison of the sun with that of
modern indoor tanning equipment. The sun's strength is dependent on several
factors as well. The time of day or year, latitude, cloud cover, pollution and
reflection all directly influence our sun exposure. When you are outdoors in the
sun you cannot control the amount of ultraviolet light you are exposed to.
Indoor tanning is a very controlled environment in which you can regulate the
amount of ultraviolet light you are exposed to. You can gradually increase your
exposure time to achieve the tan you desire without burning.
Q.
Must protective eyewear be worn while tanning indoors?
A. Yes! The law requires that protective eyewear which meets its transmission
specifications be made available and supplied to each indoor tanner.
Overexposure to UV light can cause cataracts to form over a period of time as
well as cause night blindness and could burn the retina. Prolonged unprotected
exposure to UVA is cumulative and permanent. To help blend the "raccoon eyes"
you may experience, we suggest using either a sunless tanning lotion or
cosmetics on this area.
Q. How often is a
person allowed to tan?
A. You must have a minimum of 24 hours between tans.
Q. Can indoor lotions
be used outdoors?
A. Our lotions can be used outdoors, however they do not contain a sunscreen or SPF, which we highly recommend.
Do not use a tingle lotion outdoors. Outdoor tanning lotions may NOT be used
while tanning indoors as it may harm the acrylic in the beds.
Q. I want to get a
dark tan fast but haven't tanned for a while. What do you suggest?
A. We recommend a starting our base tan program and using a lotion with a
bronzer. The bronzer will give your skin the appearance of being tanned while
you true skin tone catches up.
Q. How do sunless
tanning lotions work?
A. The main ingredient in most self-tanners is DHA (an ingredient derived from
sugarcane), which reacts with proteins and amino acids in the skin to create a
tan. We think the best analogy is to imagine a cut apple. If you leave it out,
it reacts with the oxygen in the air and the moisture in the apple to quickly
turn brown. A self-tanner reacts similarly with your skin. It oxidizes the skin
cells on the surface layer to create color.
Q. Why is it important
to develop a base tan?
A. Moderate exposure to UVB helps develop a natural barrier in the skin to
protect the body from excessive UV light. UVB stimulates the production of
melanin, which then surrounds the core of cells to protect the DNA. This melanin
substance absorbs and/or scatters radiation. In addition, exposure to UVB
thickens the epidermis thereby limiting the amount of UV light, which could
penetrate the lower skin layers. If this photoprotection (base tan) is not
developed or a sunscreen is not used, sunburn can occur and the DNA of the skin
cells may become damaged.
Q. Why does a tan
disappear?
A. The tan or pigmentation process occurs in the epidermis, the top skin layer.
The epidermis replaces all its skin cells every 28-30 days. Cells in the inner
portion of the top skin layer divide themselves, migrate to the surface, and
flake off. Skin cells contain melanin, and as a result of UV exposure rise to
the surface and flake off as well. Therefore, a tan can be maintained only by
repeated exposure to UV light.
Q. Will tanning change
the color of my dyed hair?
A. Dyed or natural, with frequent tanning hair can also potentially lighten to
some degree. The individual's unique chemistry and the type of dyes used might
play a role, but changes in color are not widespread. Some tanners use a shower
cap or towel during the session to protect from potential side effects.
Q. Will tanning affect my scar?
A. In most cases, scars - whether from an incision or from burns - don't tan
very well. Instead of tanning, they often become sensitive to UV light and can
burn more easily. Persons with scars are advised to use sunscreen on those areas
to minimize UV exposure. Self-tanner or bronzer can be used to help the scar
match the rest of the skin.
Q. How can I keep my
artificial nails from yellowing?
A. There are clear polishes on the market that filter UV light and can be used
as a topcoat. These products have been devised specifically because discolouring
of acrylic or other artificial nail materials is a problem for a number of
people.
Q. Do I need to
protect my tattoo?
A. Cover a fresh tattoo with a good sunscreen or lip balm with sunscreen. The
chemicals injected into the skin to create the tattoo can make the area very
sensitive to UV exposure while the tattoo is healing. After the skin has healed,
using a little sunscreen for protection is still recommended. Although the
chemicals have lost their photosensitivity, the colors will begin to lose
brilliance with UV exposure, whether outdoors or indoors.
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Amy
Stackhouse
Last Update: April 2009