What
are those "white spots" I sometimes get on my skin
after tanning?
"White spots"
stem from one of the following three conditions:
- Pressure
Points. Your position on the tanning bed may create
pressure on an area of the body - mainly shoulder blades,
tail bone area, and backs of calves - restricting blood
flow, which can prevent tanning.
- Tinea Versicolor.
A fungus originating on the scalp that falls on the upper
body and results in small white spots that won't tan.
These white spots are often noticeable on the upper arm
area.
- Vitiligo.
Areas that do not produce melanin, usually an irregularly
shaped patch of pale skin surrounded by normally-pigmented
skin.
See your physician
for proper diagnosis.
[RETURN TO QUESTIONS]
Do
I still need to use an SPF outdoors even if I have a good
base tan?
You should. Outdoor
exposure to sunlight, especially in the summer, calls for
protection. Sunscreens are an important part of anyone's
summer skincare regimen, non-tanners and tanners alike.
The fact is that those of us with an established base tan
can still get a sunburn, and the resulting skin damage.
We advise the appropriate usage of sunscreens during your
time outdoors. The bottom line is, sunscreen or not - Don't
Ever Sunburn!
Certain prescription
drugs can cause photosensitivity - meaning that your skin
will be more sensitive to ultraviolet light exposure. If
you are taking these drugs, you are more likely to develop
sunburn, itching or rashes when tanning. Let your doctor
or pharmacist know that you are tanning when filling a prescription.
If you believe your body is affected by a photosensitive
substance, avoid the sunshine and do not tan.
Sunlight exposure
is your body's main source of Vitamin D - an essential vitamin
for bone formation and repair, absorption of calcium and
phosphorus and general good health. In many climates, the
small amount of sunlight available from November to March
makes it impossible to process Vitamin D naturally through
outdoor sun exposure. That is why as much as 40% of the
population suffers from Vitamin D deficiency, and more than
one-third with adequate Vitamin D in their diets are still
short of this important vitamin. Lack of sunlight and the
resulting Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to higher
risk of many health disorders, including osteoporosis, several
forms of cancer and even depression.
When tanning indoors, you expose yourself to a scientifically
controlled dosage of ultraviolet light carefully formulated
to tan you with a minimal risk of sunburn. That kind of
control is virtually impossible outdoors.
Studies show
that the frequent tanner does not have to stop tanning because
of pregnancy; ultraviolet radiation does not pose any threat
to the developing baby itself.
Depending on
your skin type, and the sun bed you choose, it will take
from 1 to 5 sessions for you to begin showing good color.
Traditional sunbeds of the most common design will require
about 5 sessions spread over about 2 weeks to produce good
color. You will generally get what you pay for. A fast tan
is generally more cosmetic than functional. A tan needs
to be maintained for a longer period of time in order for
it to be functional in protecting from sunburn.
In most cases,
yes. A tan is your body's natural protection against sunburn.
The amount of protection received depends on the type of
equipment used. Some of the newest quartz lamp sunbeds and
booths with "pure UVA" output offer faster color
but less sunburn protection than more common sunbed designs.
The traditional sunbeds - including the beds at Union Tropical
Zone - use both UVA and UVB rays to offer an increased resistance
to sunburn. A tan is your body's natural defense against
the sun, and may reduce your chances of burning when you
are outdoors. Of course, we always recommend that our customers
wear a sunscreen of some sort (preferably an SPF15) if they
are going to be outdoors. Remember: the number one rule
of a smart tanner is to Never Burn!
Yes, for the
following reasons: The tanning lotions sold at our salon
have been specifically developed to maximize the benefits
of your indoor tanning experience. Moist skin tans more
quickly and efficiently than "dry" skin, saving
you time and money. Active ingredients supplement the skin's
cells with the same proteins that enhance the tanning process
naturally. Specially-formulated indoor tanning lotions help
your tan last by retaining ultraviolet-induced melanin longer.
The latest lotion technology includes antioxidants that
help prevent fine lines and wrinkles. Union Tropical Zone
offers the widest variety of skincare products, including
accelerators, reddening (or "tingle") lotions,
and after-tan moisturizers to help you maintain a beautiful
tan. Our Salon Consultants will gladly assist you in finding
the best tanning lotion to fit your needs.
It may. And it
will probably wrinkle if you do not tan. Diet, genetics,
and certain behaviors - such as smoking cigarettes - will
wrinkle your skin more than moderate suntanning. Overexposure
is the problem, not moderate exposure.
Absolutely not!
The first rule is to Never Sunburn. At Union Tropical Zone,
we'll teach you how to tan safely and avoid sunburn at all
costs.
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 the lack of information when we are growing up are
the very things that lead to skin damage later in life.
We now know that the key to avoiding sunburn is moderation
in terms of UV exposure. The best way to ensure a safe 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 you
get out of the sun. Overexposure isn't evident sometimes
until hours after the sun's gone down. It's better to use
a sunscreen and to wear protective clothing than to risk
overexposure which can lead to skin damage.
Some people get
it, however, diet and genetics have much more to do with
skin cancer than adult suntanning behavior. There is strong
evidence that childhood sunburns may increase the risk of
developing skin cancer in later life.
Yes! Federal
law requires all tanning facilities to supply you with proper
eye protection - it is your responsibility to wear it. Sunglasses,
towels and cotton balls are not inadequate forms
of protection in a tanning unit. Indoor tanning eyewear
stops 99% of UVB light and 99.9% of UVA light, allowing
only visible light through so you can see while you tan.
Closing your eyelids is not adequate protection without
proper eyewear. Your eyelids are too thin to stop ultraviolet
light from penetrating your cornea, lens and retina. Your
skin can tan. Your eyes can't. Wear your eye protection
when you tan.
You risk serious injury to your eyes if you fail to wear
your protective eyewear. Left unprotected, ultraviolet light
penetrates deep into your eyes when you tan. Specifically,
the short waves of UVB penetrate the cornea, possibly causing
painful corneal eye burns. But some UVB and the longer waves
of UVA can penetrate the lens or retina, causing retinal
burns or even cataracts and other long term internal eye
damage. Night blindness and color blindness are attributed
to long-term ultraviolet exposure to your eyes.
Because some of these conditions take years to develop,
you might not realize you are damaging your eyes when you
fail to wear eyewear. Merely closing your eyelids while
you tan is not enough! Your thin eyelids do not stop the
invisible rays of ultraviolet light from penetrating through
to your eyes.
No, although
you may want to. Although eyewear will protect your eyes
and lenses from UV damage, the heat emitted from the tanning
equipment may dry out the lenses and irritate your eyes.
No, because Union
Tropical Zone follows good hygiene practices. We use a "DISINFECTANT"
or "SANITIZER" and also "FUNGICIDES"
and "VIRUCIDES" to control ringworm, foot fungus,
and viral diseases. We will gladly show you our hygiene
products
Moisturize! Because
your skin is constantly renewing itself, the dryer your
skin is, the faster it wants to shed it's top layers and
bring new skin to the surface. However, losing the top layers
of your skin can mean losing your tan. Dry layers on the
surface of your skin will block the UV rays from getting
to the other layers to tan them. The healthier your skin
is, the better it tans, so remember to moisturize immediately
after tanning and bathing, and drink lots of water. In addition,
you'll need to maintain a tanning schedule of every 4 to
5 days, or at least once a week, to keep your tan, because
your skin is reproducing new cells all the time.
Blood is essential
to the oxidation of the melanin, and it is very important
to the whole tanning process. This is why areas like your
stomach, areas with lots of fatty tissue, organs & strong
blood flow, show so much more color faster. Using a lotion
with a "tingle" or with "hot action"
can help your blood circulate better when tanning.
Often it is because
of a lack of blood circulation. Using a lotion with a "tingle"
or a reddening agent can help the blood in your legs circulate
better when tanning.
[RETURN
TO QUESTIONS]
Is
it better to use bath gels or bar soap in the shower? Will
it make a difference in my tan?
Using bath gels
is better for your tan. Bar soaps can tend to be very harsh
on your skin, drying it out. Bath gels can help add moisture
to your skin. When your skin is better moisturized, your
tan will last longer.
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