Sundeck Tanning

How Often Is a Person Allowed to Tan?

Since 1986, the Food and Drug Administration guidelines suggest that a 48-hour time interval should pass between tanning sessions. Pigmentation and/or erythema (sunburn) may not be fully visible for between 12-24 hours. Thus, two tanning sessions within this 24-hour period could cause an unintentional burn. In general, maximum pigmentation can be built up gradually, following the exposure schedule, in 8-10 sessions.

A 20 minute Session in a Tanning Bed is Equivalent To How Many Hours In the Natural Sun?

It is difficult to make a simple comparison between the sun and modern indoor tanning equipment. Just as various kinds of indoor tanning lamps and equipment differ in spectral output and energy emitted, the sun's strength is dependent on several factors as well, such as time of day or year, the latitude, cloud cover, pollution and reflection. Consequently, there is no formula for relating indoor tanning exposure times to outdoor exposure times.

Can We Tan Throughout the Year Without Harming the Skin?

Skin damage may occur if a person overexposes the skin to UV or combines exposure indoors with exposure to the natural sun. One should always be mindful of the dangers of overexposure, as it may lead to chronic skin damage.

Can UV Rays Emitted By Indoor Tanning Lamps Pass Through the Skin and Effect Internal Organs?

The UV rays emitted by indoor tanning lamps do not emit sufficient energy to penetrate past the skin layers. Thus, despite claims and rumors to the contrary, internal organs are not directly impacted by longer wave UV light.

Why Do Some Dermatologists Warn People Against Sun Exposure?

While some dermatologists may advocate total avoidance of all sun exposure, the media seems to quote only those who do. Many dermatologists and others from the medical community have acknowledged the need for moderate sun exposure, while advocating the use of sunscreens.

Why Do Some People Itch After Tanning Indoors?

Itching and/or rashes may be linked to several unrelated causes, so it is important to obtain a tanning history on each customer. Some people are naturally photosensitive upon exposure to UV. Others are susceptible to heat rashes, a cause totally unrelated to UV light.

Certain chemicals or ingredients found in cosmetics, lotions, shampoos, and even the acrylic cleaner used at salons may cause itching as well. Rashes caused by these products generally occur in localized areas on which the products were applied. Customers should be advised to tan with the skin as clean as possible. If discontinued use of a suspected product does not inhibit rash, a person should discontinue any exposure to UV light until the condition subsides, or see a physician.

What Causes White Spots On the Skin?

There are several reasons why white spots become noticeable on the body once the tanning process begins.

Patches of skin which do not tan could be the result of genetic determination. The melanocytes in that certain area may simply not be efficient at producing melanin.
White spots could also appear due to the presence of a fungus which lives on the skin's surface. While the fungus is harmless, it does absorb UV light, which would normally penetrate the skin. The fungus did not appear as a result of tanning; it merely becomes noticeable once tanning occurs. It can be remedied through the use of prescription drugs or some other topical lotions.
White patches of skin, which are often prominent on the shoulder blades and just above the buttocks, can be caused by the pressure from the body as it reclines on a hard surface. This pressure inhibits the flow of blood through that area of the skin. Since blood carries oxygen, which is essential to the tanning process, this area does not tan. Periodic body shifting during tanning will make these white patches disappear.
Certain medications can react unfavorably with exposure to UV light. For example, birth control can cause blotches and uneven pigmentation of the skin.

May Pregnant Women Tan Indoors?

There is no current scientific and/or biological reason why a pregnant woman cannot tan indoors or outdoors. In fact, some researchers believe the production of vitamin D caused by exposure to UVB may be beneficial to both the mother and fetus. However, there is some concern that the heat build up which inevitably occurs when tanning indoors or outdoors may adversely affect some pregnant women, just as a sauna or jacuzzi might. A pregnant woman may not be comfortable in the tanning equipment. Furthermore, for liability reasons, it is recommended that pregnant women consult their physician before tanning indoors or outdoors.