QUESTION:
"I've heard that indoor tanning is more harmful than tanning outdoors because the UV light exposure is more intense."
ANSWER:
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.
QUESTION:
"My friend told me I should stop tanning because I could get a sexually transmitted disease like AIDS from the tanning bed."
ANSWER:
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.
QUESTION:
"Can tanning beds cook your internal organs?"
ANSWER:
No. This question is usually asked due to the urban legend about a woman who cooked her insides from tanning at multiple locations. Often the legend is also accompanied with the idea that tanning light is the same thing as microwaves. This, in fact, is not the case. UVA with your average tanning bed penetrates about 2mm deep (about the thickness of cardboard) into the body. UVA penetrates deeper than UVB, but even if ultraviolet light could reach your internal organs, it doesn't work like microwaves do. Imagine that you want to heat up a slice of pizza. Put it into the tanning unit for 30 minutes. What's going to happen? Maybe it would get a little warm from the heat of the lamps, but that's it. Now take that same slice of pizza and put it into the microwave for 30 minutes. What's going to happen to that slice of pizza now? The pizza would be ashes at the end of 30 minutes. Tanning light and microwaves behave differently.
QUESTION:
"I heard that in order to get a suntan you have to burn first."
ANSWER:
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.
QUESTION:
"All skin types tan or burn in the same amount of time."
ANSWER:
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.
QUESTION:
"People with medium to dark skin never burn."
ANSWER:
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.
QUESTION:
"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."
ANSWER:
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.
QUESTION:
"What is the 24 hour rule?"
ANSWER:
To help maximize tanning while minimizing the risk of burning. It's all about control - something you don't get outdoors.
Skin naturally needs a little down time to process the light it has received. This is no different than when you exercise. Your muscles need a little down time to recuperate from that workout. The result from a good workout with a good resting period is a stronger you. The result from a good exposure with good spacing between visits is a better tan with increased levels of melanin.
The State of Iowa has requirements for exposure schedules. Each tanning bed has an exposure schedule label developed by the manufacturer of the specific bed and in accordance with FDA requirements. Different tanning beds require different exposure schedules.
QUESTION:
"How does the tanning process work?"
ANSWER:
There are three components that make the tanning process work. UVB starts the tanning process by stimulating the tanning cells (melanocytes) to produce melanosomes, which contain melanin (pigment). UVA darkens the melanin that has been produced, but before that can happen, melanin needs a certain amount of oxygen to facilitate the work that UVA performs. The third component, oxygen, comes from blood vessels beneath the skin and outside the skin. Of course, you will want to explain to your customers that the tanning process can be optimized through the use of professional tanning lotions that contain nutrients for your tanning cells. For those who seem to develop a tan rather slowly and become impatient, you may be able to build their confidence in the tanning process by explaining that a single tanning session can potentially take anywhere from three to ten days to fully mature. This is called DPD or Delayed Pigment Darkening.
QUESTION:
"Why should I use a lotion?"
ANSWER:
By using a lotion before you tan, your moisturized skin is able to soak up UV-Rays in a quicker, healthier, and more efficient way, resulting in both a better and smarter tan. If you don’t use a lotion, your dry skin actually reflects up to 40% of your rays, wasting up to 8 minutes of your tan! It is also important to moisturize after you tan, to fully maximize your tanning benefits. The products we sell are specifically designed to work in tanning beds to moisturize your skin and accelerate or intensify the darkening of your skin.
QUESTION:
"Why is eyewear essential and what kind can I use?
ANSWER:
Eyewear needs to be 100% UV protective and FDA approved. All of the eyewear available at #1 Sun is approved and 100% protective. Some beds may require a specific kind of eyewear as well, also available at #1 Sun. You are required by law to own your own eyewear. You will be asked to show your eyewear each time you tan. The eyewear must be worn during the entire session.
QUESTION:
"Do I need to make an appointment?"
ANSWER:
#1 Sun just accepts walk-ins for your convenience! The spa is the only thing that we encourage appointments for.
For More Information...
At #1 Sun we believe in making you an informed customer, for more information please visit the following links or call us and speak with one of our tanning consultants.