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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