Is indoor tanning the same as tanning outside in the sun?
Your skin's reaction to exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light is the same regardless of how you get
the exposure. There is one important difference, though. When you are out in the sun, it is harder to control
the amount of UV light you are exposed to, because of the varying conditions in the atmosphere. With
indoor tanning you are able to regulate the amount of UV light you are exposed to, because it is a
controlled environment. You can gradually increase your exposure time to make sure you don't get a
sunburn, which is harmful to the skin.
How do the beds and booths work?
Tanning lamps emit UV Rays, just like the sun, except the tanning lamps filter out UVC, which is the most
harmful of the three UV Rays, and only emits UVB, which starts the tanning process (but overexposure
can cause sunburn) & UVA which completes the tanning process and turns your melanin brown.
Tanning lamps use the best ratio of UVB and UVA light to provide optimal tanning results, with
a lowered risk of overexposure.
If I can't tan in the sun, will I tan indoors?
Normally, a person tans indoors only as well as they tan outdoors. However those fair-skinned people
who generally burn outside, in an uncontrolled environment, often achieve some color when tanning indoors.
How often should I tan?
In order to build and maintain a great looking tan, it is important to tan regularly. You can tan up to once
every 24 hours, but the FDA recommends that you wait at least 48 hours in between each session since
erythema (redness of the skin/sunburn) may not be fully visible for between 12-24 hours after your tanning
session. You can build up a great tan by going to an indoor tanning facility three to four times a week. Once
you have a tan, you can maintain it by tanning two or three times a week. Don't let too much time go by
between visits, or your tan will begin to fade.
How long does it take to get a tan?
Usually, you will begin to notice results after a few tanning sessions, but it may take a few weeks of
regular tanning (at least three times a week) to get to the color you are looking for. If you are
developing a base tan before going on a trip, you would want to start tanning about 3 or 4 weeks
before you go.
Frequently Asked Questions