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© 2007 FullerTan, All Rights Reserved
Q: WHY SHOULD I USE A TANNING LOTION?
A: For more reasons than you would expect! To encourage and maintain skin health by:
*Counteracting the drying effects of tanning
*Replenishing the vitamins in your skin needs anyway to reduce or eliminate oxidative
damage by environmental pollutants
*Taking advantage of the time when, during tanning, your pores open up and can absorb
and retain moisture and vitamins better than any other time.
*To prepare the skin to tan better and DOUBLE your results, saving money and time spent on
tanning sessions.
*To dramatically extend the life of your tan.
Q: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUR LOTIONS AND THE ONES I SEE AT THE STORE FOR $10?
A: Ingredients, quality, and, most importantly, results. The higher price reflects the amount of
research and technology that has gone into developing a professional tanning lotion, as well as
what¹s inside. A store-bought accelerator is like your basic moisturizer without the stuff that
damages acrylic. Our lotions are bioengineered with state of the art ingredients that not only
produce a darker tan but replace the vitamins your skin needs anyway to reduce oxidative
damage from environmental pollutants.
Q: WHY ARE YOUR LOTIONS SO EXPENSIVE?
A: Because they are expensive to make. The antioxidant ingredients that they contain in
considerable amounts are the most expensive to manufacture, but they make a huge
difference and are worth the results. Keep in mind that you¹ll be saving money on tanning by
using a professional lotion because you will get twice as much out of each session and retain
the color you get longer.
Q: DO I NEED TO USE A SUNSCREEN?
A: Yes, when exposing certain parts that lack protective melanin because they aren¹t normally
exposed to light, including bikini line, chest, butt, underarms, etc. If you want these parts to tan,
you should use an SPF 8, 10, or 15 so melanin develops slowly in these areas and continues in
others. Eventually, melanin production on those areas will catch up to the rest of the body for
an even, overall tan. You should also consider protecting parts that can¹t produce melanin for
protection and are easily damaged during exposure, such as lips and ears. For lips, use a lip
balm containing sunscreen like California Tan Heliotherapy Lip SPF 25.
Q: WHAT IS A TINGLE?
A: It's a special kind of formula in an accelerating lotion that stimulates the blood capillaries and
causes them to expand and rise to the surface of the skin. This gives your skin an immediate red
flush, often in some places more than others, and causes a tingling sensation, hence the name
tingle. This redness is only temporary, and can be somewhat uncomfortable, but gives you
better results than a non-tingle.
Q: WHY DON'T MY LEGS SEEM TO TAN?
A: They say that the farther away from your heart a part of your body is, the harder it is to tan.
That would make sense, since your legs and especially your feet are the hardest to tan. The
reason why is that most people have at least some cholesterol build up along artery walls, and it
makes it much more difficult for blood (and therefore oxygen) to flow to the extremities. Oxygen
that comes from the outside, too, assists the tanning process. So wearing pants, especially tight
pants, and shoes that cover the legs or feet completely, may be causing enough oxygen
deprivation to hinder the tanning process. Your skin may be so badly oxygen deprived in these
areas from being fully covered that any moments it has to absorb oxygen from the air are going
to be used for basic maintenance of the skin's condition, and then to support the tanning
process.
Q: WHY WON'T MY FACE TAN?
A: The skin on your face is thinner and has less capacity for melanin production. Facial
accelerators are a must, even for those who don't have difficulty tanning their face, because of
their moisturizing, anti-aging, wrinkle reducing, and firming functions. Regular accelerators don¹t
address facial tanning needs specifically, and they may contain ingredients not suitable for
sensitive facial skin. An alternative option for tanning your face is to use a facial self tanner or
bronzing powder. The latest self tanners and bronzers give incredibly natural results, and are
virtually undetectable next to a real tan. California Tan Suddenly Sun bronzing powder is one
we carry.
Q: WHAT CAN I DO IF I DON'T WANT TO TAN MY FACE?
A: You should use a sunscreen, but it needs to be a full-spectrum or broad-spectrum type to filter
out the UVA. A towel over your face is only as effective as an SPF 8, so you may want to invest in
our SPF 20 lotion for more or full protection.
Q: HOW CAN I AVOID GETTING WHITE LINES ON MY SIDES?
A: In the Orion beds, it may be necessary to re-position yourself during your session by turning on
your sides. The Orbit beds are designed with 360 degree coverage, so white lines are usually
eliminated, and the client may want to upgrade instead. Still, the undisputed best way to
achieve total coverage is the Stand-up bed, where you can get underarms, pressure points,
and everything else without worrying about how you position yourself.
Q: WHY DOES IT SEEM LIKE I¹M NOT GETTING DARKER ANYMORE?
A: You've probably reached your tanning plateau, and changing your lotion should make a big
difference. If you¹ve been using a non-tingle, it¹s best to move to a low tingle at this point. Also,
you may be spacing your sessions too far apart to build color and instead are just maintaining a
certain level. Another thing to consider is your skin care routine.
*Is your skin as clean as possible when you tan?
*Do you use a moisturizer after each sessions and after showering?
*Do you exfoliate regularly?
There is a limit, however, to how dark your skin can get. Some people are able to get darker
than others, so make sure your expectations are reasonable with your ethnicity and skin type.
Q: HOW OFTEN DO I NEED TO COME TO MAINTAIN THE COLOR I HAVE?
A: On average, one session a week on the Orbit or 2-3 sessions in the Orion is all it takes. Either
way will cost about the same, so it¹s just a matter of how much time you want to spend.
Q: CAN I GO LONGER THAN THE MAX?
A: No, because you don¹t need to. Our beds are designed to give you optimal results in less
time, and our quickest bed, the Orbit, actually gives you the darkest results. A 15-minute session
in our low bed alone, the Orion, will give you about twice the results of most 20- and 30-minute
beds. All tanning units, regardless of timer interval or lamp type, must be built to conform to FDA
requirements, which include setting the maximum time interval to the longest a person may tan
in a 24-hour period. You may have been able to exceed the maximum time elsewhere by
doing 2 sessions back-to-back, but it's actually against the law for a tanning salon to allow
someone to do that. Also, the only way you could have done so without inducing overexposure
or sunburn would be with bulbs that are way past their lifespan. We always change our bulbs
before schedule, and you can be assured that you¹re always getting the best color.
Q: CAN I GO THE FULL TIME? I DON'T CARE IF I BURN.
A: First and foremost, the golden rule of tanning is NEVER BURN. You may not be aware of the
consequences of allowing your skin to burn. Sunburn is the biggest risk factor for skin
cancer-ONE instance of sunburn increases your risk by 50%! Sunburns do not "fade into tans,"
but rather, a sunburn is an injury on top of a tan. You may not care if you burn, but we do.
(If a customer's skin type or base tan is not dark enough to protect itself from burning, then no,
we will not, under any circumstances, allow them to burn intentionally, for any session length
during which a burn is likely to occur. We consider the health of your skin more important than
our business. You may be used to the "no questions asked" manner in which other salons allow
customers to choose their own tanning times, but that's not our policy. We would rather take
the time to educate our clients, help them understand why we don't allow our clients to burn,
and go from there.
Q: HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE BEFORE I SEE RESULTS?
A: After each sessions, it will take between 5 and 24 hours before you can see the full amount of
color achieved during your session. The redness that sometimes appears immediately after
tanning is not an indicator of how much color you got or a reason to be alarmed. Often, rather,
it is the immediate coloration from the warmth radiated by the unit itself, not the UV. This is
always the case when using a tingle lotion. As far as obtaining a tan initially, customers must
realize that tanning is not an immediate process. Sunburn, on the other hand, is
immediate. After just one session, you shouldn't expect to see a difference. The worst way to try
to get a tan is multiple sessions too quickly with too long of an exposure time. As in the sun,
obtaining a tan indoors is a developmental process that involves gradually building pigment
within the structure of the skin. With that said, you can expect to see a difference in color after
3-4 sessions in the Orion or 2 sessions in the orbit, when exposure schedules are followed correctly.
Q: IS IT OKAY TO TAN EVERY DAY?
A: It is recommended by the FDA that sessions are spaced 48 hours apart, but you are allowed
to tan consecutive days if you want to. The only time we strongly advise against tanning on
consecutive days is when you are still red or pink from the day before. Any time you develop
redness or burn, you should wait for your skin to recover before tanning again. And then, when
you do, take your time down to avoid burning again.
Q: IS IT OKAY TO TAN AFTER I'VE SPENT ALL DAY AT THE BEACH?
A: If you didn't use a sun block, then you shouldn't tan. One session in a bed alone is all your skin
needs or can handle in one day, and it can take between 8 and 24 hours after exposure before
your skin's full pigmentation is visible. You may have already sunburned, and you won¹t know
for sure until tomorrow.
Q: WILL IT AFFECT MY TAN TO TAKE A SHOWER/SHAVE?
A: Showering or shaving anytime within a 5 hour span of time following a tanning session will.
The tanning process is still taking place during this time, and showering washes away
moisture-sealing sebum and lotion that are still aiding in the process. It's best to wait at least an
hour before showering if possible. If you usually need to shower immediately after you tan, an
option would be to use a shower get that restores the skin to it's optimal tanning condition, like
California Tan Summer Sunbathe. Showering or shaving as normal won't noticeably fade a tan,
but frequent or prolonged showers can reduce the life of a tan.
Q: IS TANNING INDOORS SAFER THAN TANNING IN THE SUN?
A: I wouldn't say that it's safer, but it's definitely smarter. Tanning indoors has the element of
control that you never have outdoors. Here, the UVA and UVB emissions are set and maintained
at a percentage optimal for tanning and minimal for burning. Since the greatest risk factor for
skin cancer is sunburn, it's important to avoid it at all costs. There's no way to do that outdoors
while trying to achieve a tan. A second advantage of indoor tanning over outdoor is the short
exposure time. You only need 10-15 minutes or less as opposed to spending hours a day in the
sun with a low SPF. Exposure to UV rays is what wears down skin over time and encourages
wrinkles, so less time for the same amount of color is always better.
Q: A 10 OR 15 MINUTE SESSION IN A BED IS EQUIVALENT TO HOW MANY HOURS IN THE NATURAL SUN?
A: There is no formula for relating indoor tanning times to outdoor tanning times because the sun's
strength and spectral (UVA/UVB) output varies with time of day, time of year, latitude, elevation,
cloud cover, pollution and reflection. You should mention, however, that the sun's average UVB
output on a summer day in California is 80%, compared to 2-4% in the beds.
Q: IS IT OKAY TO KEEP MY CONTACT LENSES IN WHILE TANNING?
A: Yes. When you keep your eyes closed and wear the goggles we provide, UV light is blocked
from penetrating the eye or lens. Some people, however, may experience a temporary dryness
due to the heat or fan, which may make the lens uncomfortable. Just as you should moisturize
the skin after tanning, contact lens wearers may also want to use eye drops as recommended
by his/her optometrist.
Q: IS IT OKAY TO TAN DURING PREGNANCY?
A: There is no current scientific and/or biological reason why a pregnant woman can or cannot
tan indoors. Keep in mind these facts:
* In a standard bed, UV light travels only 2 millimeters deep, about the thickness of a piece of
cardboard.
* UV light waves cannot, in any case, penetrate so deeply into the skin that they affect even
the body's tissues, so there's no possibility that they could affect the fetus. There is some
speculation, however, on the heat aspect of tanning. Medical professionals do not know how
or if pregnancy may be affected by the heat created from the electrical components in
tanning equipment. Some research on hot tub and sauna usage suggests that prolonged
exposure to these high-heat environments could lead to birth defects, but remember that
tanning units do not produce as much heat as saunas and hot tubs do. Moreover, the most
time you'd spend in our beds in a day is 10 or 15 minutes which, given the beds' advanced
cooling systems and lamp technology, is rarely enough to break a sweat. A last consideration
involves the chance a woman in advanced pregnancy would be cramped or uncomfortable
in a tanning bed. In general, it can be difficult for pregnant women to use smaller or
average-sized tanning units. Fortunately, all of our beds are wide enough and have adequate
vertical clearance, even for women close to delivery. Aside from the cosmetic reason for
tanning during pregnancy, some medical professionals believe that the production of vitamin D
caused by UV exposure may be beneficial to both the mother and the fetus.
Q: WHY DO I GET THIS ODOR ON MY SKIN AFTER TANNING?
A: Dermatologists say this is a chemical reaction your body undergoes when exposed to UV light.
This is normal and occurs whether you¹ve been tanning outside or inside. A shower will remove
the odor, but many accelerators are designed to combat it as well (Look for ordenone on the
list of ingredients- that's what combats after tan odor).
Q: WHAT ARE THE WHITE SPOTS ON MY SKIN THAT DON'T TAN?
A: There are several possibilities: The cause is most often a condition called Tinea Versicolor, more
commonly called sun spots, that affects tanners. It is caused by a microscopic fungus from the
scalp that falls into shoulders, arms, etc. and leaves bleached areas on the skin, which can
spread. We carry a treatment for this specifically (Wipe Out by Body Drench), and you should
protect those areas that are affected from further UV exposure until they have begun
developing melanin again. A second, less common, cause is genetic determination, where the
melanocytes in a certain area may simply not be capable of producing as much melanin as
the rest of the skin. For white patches that appear on the shoulder blades and just above the
buttocks, the cause may be the pressure from the body as it weighs down on the acrylic. This
pressure inhibits the flow of blood through that area of the skin, thereby cutting off the supply of
oxygen that is essential to the tanning process. Suggest using the standup bed to remedy the
problem. Certain medications, some very common, may also react unfavorably upon exposure
to UV light. Birth control pills, for some people, cause blotches and uneven pigmentation of the
skin.
Q: WHY DOES MY SKIN ITCH FROM TANNING INDOORS?
A: Itching and/or rashes may be linked to several unrelated causes, that is why we need to
obtain background information and tanning history from the customer. There is the occasional
person who uses a tingle lotion without knowing what it is. This is the easiest to rule out and the
easiest to fix, so question it first. Some people are naturally photosensitive, and may be more
sensitive to UVA than UVB and visa versa. For these people, itching usually occurs all over or in
various places that both do and do not touch the acrylic. If the person only experiences this
itchiness while tanning indoors or only in our beds, the may be sensitive to high amounts of UVA.
People with naturally dry or very dry skin may experience itchiness when they fail to use an
accelerator before tanning and/or an adequate moisturizing regimen, especially in dry winter
months. The drying effect of tanning can aggravate skin that's already dry and may cause
itchiness all over or in places that are the driest. Usually, skin that doesn¹t touch the acrylic is the
driest because it perspires the least. Some people are susceptible to heat rashes, a cause totally
unrelated to UV light. These people usually experience rashes or itching in areas that touch the
acrylic. If prone to heat rashes outdoors as well as indoors, itching may occur all over. Certain
chemicals or ingredients found in cosmetics, lotions, shampoos, shaving gel, etc. may cause
itching as well. Rashes caused by such products generally occur in localized areas on which the
products were applied. In these cases, the customer should be advised to tan with the skin as
clean as possible and discontinue use of a suspected product. If the problem persists, the
person should discontinue UV exposure until the condition subsides or see a physician. Photo
sensitizers in certain medications, skin care products, and even a person's diet may cause rashes
or itchiness. Show the customer a list of photo sensitizers to determine whether he or she is using
or taking something on the list.
A: For more reasons than you would expect! To encourage and maintain skin health by:
*Counteracting the drying effects of tanning
*Replenishing the vitamins in your skin needs anyway to reduce or eliminate oxidative
damage by environmental pollutants
*Taking advantage of the time when, during tanning, your pores open up and can absorb
and retain moisture and vitamins better than any other time.
*To prepare the skin to tan better and DOUBLE your results, saving money and time spent on
tanning sessions.
*To dramatically extend the life of your tan.
Q: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUR LOTIONS AND THE ONES I SEE AT THE STORE FOR $10?
A: Ingredients, quality, and, most importantly, results. The higher price reflects the amount of
research and technology that has gone into developing a professional tanning lotion, as well as
what¹s inside. A store-bought accelerator is like your basic moisturizer without the stuff that
damages acrylic. Our lotions are bioengineered with state of the art ingredients that not only
produce a darker tan but replace the vitamins your skin needs anyway to reduce oxidative
damage from environmental pollutants.
Q: WHY ARE YOUR LOTIONS SO EXPENSIVE?
A: Because they are expensive to make. The antioxidant ingredients that they contain in
considerable amounts are the most expensive to manufacture, but they make a huge
difference and are worth the results. Keep in mind that you¹ll be saving money on tanning by
using a professional lotion because you will get twice as much out of each session and retain
the color you get longer.
Q: DO I NEED TO USE A SUNSCREEN?
A: Yes, when exposing certain parts that lack protective melanin because they aren¹t normally
exposed to light, including bikini line, chest, butt, underarms, etc. If you want these parts to tan,
you should use an SPF 8, 10, or 15 so melanin develops slowly in these areas and continues in
others. Eventually, melanin production on those areas will catch up to the rest of the body for
an even, overall tan. You should also consider protecting parts that can¹t produce melanin for
protection and are easily damaged during exposure, such as lips and ears. For lips, use a lip
balm containing sunscreen like California Tan Heliotherapy Lip SPF 25.
Q: WHAT IS A TINGLE?
A: It's a special kind of formula in an accelerating lotion that stimulates the blood capillaries and
causes them to expand and rise to the surface of the skin. This gives your skin an immediate red
flush, often in some places more than others, and causes a tingling sensation, hence the name
tingle. This redness is only temporary, and can be somewhat uncomfortable, but gives you
better results than a non-tingle.
Q: WHY DON'T MY LEGS SEEM TO TAN?
A: They say that the farther away from your heart a part of your body is, the harder it is to tan.
That would make sense, since your legs and especially your feet are the hardest to tan. The
reason why is that most people have at least some cholesterol build up along artery walls, and it
makes it much more difficult for blood (and therefore oxygen) to flow to the extremities. Oxygen
that comes from the outside, too, assists the tanning process. So wearing pants, especially tight
pants, and shoes that cover the legs or feet completely, may be causing enough oxygen
deprivation to hinder the tanning process. Your skin may be so badly oxygen deprived in these
areas from being fully covered that any moments it has to absorb oxygen from the air are going
to be used for basic maintenance of the skin's condition, and then to support the tanning
process.
Q: WHY WON'T MY FACE TAN?
A: The skin on your face is thinner and has less capacity for melanin production. Facial
accelerators are a must, even for those who don't have difficulty tanning their face, because of
their moisturizing, anti-aging, wrinkle reducing, and firming functions. Regular accelerators don¹t
address facial tanning needs specifically, and they may contain ingredients not suitable for
sensitive facial skin. An alternative option for tanning your face is to use a facial self tanner or
bronzing powder. The latest self tanners and bronzers give incredibly natural results, and are
virtually undetectable next to a real tan. California Tan Suddenly Sun bronzing powder is one
we carry.
Q: WHAT CAN I DO IF I DON'T WANT TO TAN MY FACE?
A: You should use a sunscreen, but it needs to be a full-spectrum or broad-spectrum type to filter
out the UVA. A towel over your face is only as effective as an SPF 8, so you may want to invest in
our SPF 20 lotion for more or full protection.
Q: HOW CAN I AVOID GETTING WHITE LINES ON MY SIDES?
A: In the Orion beds, it may be necessary to re-position yourself during your session by turning on
your sides. The Orbit beds are designed with 360 degree coverage, so white lines are usually
eliminated, and the client may want to upgrade instead. Still, the undisputed best way to
achieve total coverage is the Stand-up bed, where you can get underarms, pressure points,
and everything else without worrying about how you position yourself.
Q: WHY DOES IT SEEM LIKE I¹M NOT GETTING DARKER ANYMORE?
A: You've probably reached your tanning plateau, and changing your lotion should make a big
difference. If you¹ve been using a non-tingle, it¹s best to move to a low tingle at this point. Also,
you may be spacing your sessions too far apart to build color and instead are just maintaining a
certain level. Another thing to consider is your skin care routine.
*Is your skin as clean as possible when you tan?
*Do you use a moisturizer after each sessions and after showering?
*Do you exfoliate regularly?
There is a limit, however, to how dark your skin can get. Some people are able to get darker
than others, so make sure your expectations are reasonable with your ethnicity and skin type.
Q: HOW OFTEN DO I NEED TO COME TO MAINTAIN THE COLOR I HAVE?
A: On average, one session a week on the Orbit or 2-3 sessions in the Orion is all it takes. Either
way will cost about the same, so it¹s just a matter of how much time you want to spend.
Q: CAN I GO LONGER THAN THE MAX?
A: No, because you don¹t need to. Our beds are designed to give you optimal results in less
time, and our quickest bed, the Orbit, actually gives you the darkest results. A 15-minute session
in our low bed alone, the Orion, will give you about twice the results of most 20- and 30-minute
beds. All tanning units, regardless of timer interval or lamp type, must be built to conform to FDA
requirements, which include setting the maximum time interval to the longest a person may tan
in a 24-hour period. You may have been able to exceed the maximum time elsewhere by
doing 2 sessions back-to-back, but it's actually against the law for a tanning salon to allow
someone to do that. Also, the only way you could have done so without inducing overexposure
or sunburn would be with bulbs that are way past their lifespan. We always change our bulbs
before schedule, and you can be assured that you¹re always getting the best color.
Q: CAN I GO THE FULL TIME? I DON'T CARE IF I BURN.
A: First and foremost, the golden rule of tanning is NEVER BURN. You may not be aware of the
consequences of allowing your skin to burn. Sunburn is the biggest risk factor for skin
cancer-ONE instance of sunburn increases your risk by 50%! Sunburns do not "fade into tans,"
but rather, a sunburn is an injury on top of a tan. You may not care if you burn, but we do.
(If a customer's skin type or base tan is not dark enough to protect itself from burning, then no,
we will not, under any circumstances, allow them to burn intentionally, for any session length
during which a burn is likely to occur. We consider the health of your skin more important than
our business. You may be used to the "no questions asked" manner in which other salons allow
customers to choose their own tanning times, but that's not our policy. We would rather take
the time to educate our clients, help them understand why we don't allow our clients to burn,
and go from there.
Q: HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE BEFORE I SEE RESULTS?
A: After each sessions, it will take between 5 and 24 hours before you can see the full amount of
color achieved during your session. The redness that sometimes appears immediately after
tanning is not an indicator of how much color you got or a reason to be alarmed. Often, rather,
it is the immediate coloration from the warmth radiated by the unit itself, not the UV. This is
always the case when using a tingle lotion. As far as obtaining a tan initially, customers must
realize that tanning is not an immediate process. Sunburn, on the other hand, is
immediate. After just one session, you shouldn't expect to see a difference. The worst way to try
to get a tan is multiple sessions too quickly with too long of an exposure time. As in the sun,
obtaining a tan indoors is a developmental process that involves gradually building pigment
within the structure of the skin. With that said, you can expect to see a difference in color after
3-4 sessions in the Orion or 2 sessions in the orbit, when exposure schedules are followed correctly.
Q: IS IT OKAY TO TAN EVERY DAY?
A: It is recommended by the FDA that sessions are spaced 48 hours apart, but you are allowed
to tan consecutive days if you want to. The only time we strongly advise against tanning on
consecutive days is when you are still red or pink from the day before. Any time you develop
redness or burn, you should wait for your skin to recover before tanning again. And then, when
you do, take your time down to avoid burning again.
Q: IS IT OKAY TO TAN AFTER I'VE SPENT ALL DAY AT THE BEACH?
A: If you didn't use a sun block, then you shouldn't tan. One session in a bed alone is all your skin
needs or can handle in one day, and it can take between 8 and 24 hours after exposure before
your skin's full pigmentation is visible. You may have already sunburned, and you won¹t know
for sure until tomorrow.
Q: WILL IT AFFECT MY TAN TO TAKE A SHOWER/SHAVE?
A: Showering or shaving anytime within a 5 hour span of time following a tanning session will.
The tanning process is still taking place during this time, and showering washes away
moisture-sealing sebum and lotion that are still aiding in the process. It's best to wait at least an
hour before showering if possible. If you usually need to shower immediately after you tan, an
option would be to use a shower get that restores the skin to it's optimal tanning condition, like
California Tan Summer Sunbathe. Showering or shaving as normal won't noticeably fade a tan,
but frequent or prolonged showers can reduce the life of a tan.
Q: IS TANNING INDOORS SAFER THAN TANNING IN THE SUN?
A: I wouldn't say that it's safer, but it's definitely smarter. Tanning indoors has the element of
control that you never have outdoors. Here, the UVA and UVB emissions are set and maintained
at a percentage optimal for tanning and minimal for burning. Since the greatest risk factor for
skin cancer is sunburn, it's important to avoid it at all costs. There's no way to do that outdoors
while trying to achieve a tan. A second advantage of indoor tanning over outdoor is the short
exposure time. You only need 10-15 minutes or less as opposed to spending hours a day in the
sun with a low SPF. Exposure to UV rays is what wears down skin over time and encourages
wrinkles, so less time for the same amount of color is always better.
Q: A 10 OR 15 MINUTE SESSION IN A BED IS EQUIVALENT TO HOW MANY HOURS IN THE NATURAL SUN?
A: There is no formula for relating indoor tanning times to outdoor tanning times because the sun's
strength and spectral (UVA/UVB) output varies with time of day, time of year, latitude, elevation,
cloud cover, pollution and reflection. You should mention, however, that the sun's average UVB
output on a summer day in California is 80%, compared to 2-4% in the beds.
Q: IS IT OKAY TO KEEP MY CONTACT LENSES IN WHILE TANNING?
A: Yes. When you keep your eyes closed and wear the goggles we provide, UV light is blocked
from penetrating the eye or lens. Some people, however, may experience a temporary dryness
due to the heat or fan, which may make the lens uncomfortable. Just as you should moisturize
the skin after tanning, contact lens wearers may also want to use eye drops as recommended
by his/her optometrist.
Q: IS IT OKAY TO TAN DURING PREGNANCY?
A: There is no current scientific and/or biological reason why a pregnant woman can or cannot
tan indoors. Keep in mind these facts:
* In a standard bed, UV light travels only 2 millimeters deep, about the thickness of a piece of
cardboard.
* UV light waves cannot, in any case, penetrate so deeply into the skin that they affect even
the body's tissues, so there's no possibility that they could affect the fetus. There is some
speculation, however, on the heat aspect of tanning. Medical professionals do not know how
or if pregnancy may be affected by the heat created from the electrical components in
tanning equipment. Some research on hot tub and sauna usage suggests that prolonged
exposure to these high-heat environments could lead to birth defects, but remember that
tanning units do not produce as much heat as saunas and hot tubs do. Moreover, the most
time you'd spend in our beds in a day is 10 or 15 minutes which, given the beds' advanced
cooling systems and lamp technology, is rarely enough to break a sweat. A last consideration
involves the chance a woman in advanced pregnancy would be cramped or uncomfortable
in a tanning bed. In general, it can be difficult for pregnant women to use smaller or
average-sized tanning units. Fortunately, all of our beds are wide enough and have adequate
vertical clearance, even for women close to delivery. Aside from the cosmetic reason for
tanning during pregnancy, some medical professionals believe that the production of vitamin D
caused by UV exposure may be beneficial to both the mother and the fetus.
Q: WHY DO I GET THIS ODOR ON MY SKIN AFTER TANNING?
A: Dermatologists say this is a chemical reaction your body undergoes when exposed to UV light.
This is normal and occurs whether you¹ve been tanning outside or inside. A shower will remove
the odor, but many accelerators are designed to combat it as well (Look for ordenone on the
list of ingredients- that's what combats after tan odor).
Q: WHAT ARE THE WHITE SPOTS ON MY SKIN THAT DON'T TAN?
A: There are several possibilities: The cause is most often a condition called Tinea Versicolor, more
commonly called sun spots, that affects tanners. It is caused by a microscopic fungus from the
scalp that falls into shoulders, arms, etc. and leaves bleached areas on the skin, which can
spread. We carry a treatment for this specifically (Wipe Out by Body Drench), and you should
protect those areas that are affected from further UV exposure until they have begun
developing melanin again. A second, less common, cause is genetic determination, where the
melanocytes in a certain area may simply not be capable of producing as much melanin as
the rest of the skin. For white patches that appear on the shoulder blades and just above the
buttocks, the cause may be the pressure from the body as it weighs down on the acrylic. This
pressure inhibits the flow of blood through that area of the skin, thereby cutting off the supply of
oxygen that is essential to the tanning process. Suggest using the standup bed to remedy the
problem. Certain medications, some very common, may also react unfavorably upon exposure
to UV light. Birth control pills, for some people, cause blotches and uneven pigmentation of the
skin.
Q: WHY DOES MY SKIN ITCH FROM TANNING INDOORS?
A: Itching and/or rashes may be linked to several unrelated causes, that is why we need to
obtain background information and tanning history from the customer. There is the occasional
person who uses a tingle lotion without knowing what it is. This is the easiest to rule out and the
easiest to fix, so question it first. Some people are naturally photosensitive, and may be more
sensitive to UVA than UVB and visa versa. For these people, itching usually occurs all over or in
various places that both do and do not touch the acrylic. If the person only experiences this
itchiness while tanning indoors or only in our beds, the may be sensitive to high amounts of UVA.
People with naturally dry or very dry skin may experience itchiness when they fail to use an
accelerator before tanning and/or an adequate moisturizing regimen, especially in dry winter
months. The drying effect of tanning can aggravate skin that's already dry and may cause
itchiness all over or in places that are the driest. Usually, skin that doesn¹t touch the acrylic is the
driest because it perspires the least. Some people are susceptible to heat rashes, a cause totally
unrelated to UV light. These people usually experience rashes or itching in areas that touch the
acrylic. If prone to heat rashes outdoors as well as indoors, itching may occur all over. Certain
chemicals or ingredients found in cosmetics, lotions, shampoos, shaving gel, etc. may cause
itching as well. Rashes caused by such products generally occur in localized areas on which the
products were applied. In these cases, the customer should be advised to tan with the skin as
clean as possible and discontinue use of a suspected product. If the problem persists, the
person should discontinue UV exposure until the condition subsides or see a physician. Photo
sensitizers in certain medications, skin care products, and even a person's diet may cause rashes
or itchiness. Show the customer a list of photo sensitizers to determine whether he or she is using
or taking something on the list.
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