Here are some frequently asked questions you may have about tanning.

Why Tan?
There are both physiological and psychological reasons to tan. Most people tan in order to obtain the cosmetic value of darker skin, which, in turn may heighten their mood and self-esteem. Other people may tan for certain medical reasons, such as psoriasis, and do so under a doctor's care. 

Is Tanning safe?
Light is essential to all life on earth, and without light we could not survive. Tanning is natural. It is your skin's natural defense against burning. For example, eating is natural, but if you eat too much and eat the wrong things it is not good for you. The same can be said for tanning. If you burn while tanning, do not tan in moderation, or do not wear SPF protection when outdoors, you are not tanning smart.

How does my skin tan?
When the skin is exposed to Ultraviolet (UV) rays, a natural process begins to take place. There are special cells in your epidermis, which is the outermost layer of your skin, called melanocytes. When exposed to the UVB (shorter) ray, these melanocytes produce melanin, which is the pigment that is then absorbed by the surrounding skin cells. When melanin is exposed the UVA (longer) ray, the melanin then oxidizes, or darkens, creating a "tan".

Will using a tanning lotion increase my chance of burning?
Since tanning lotions are designed to be used for indoor tanning, they do not include an SPF. Using tanning lotion indoors, in a controlled environment, allows you to maximize your tanning results while minimizing your chances of overexposure. Using an indoor tanning lotion will help you to tan faster, tan darker, and stay tan longer.

What can I do FOR THE BEST RESULTS AND A LONG-LASTING TAN?
MOISTURIZE, MOISTURIZE, MOISTURIZE. Using a high quality moisturizer will help replenish the vitamins and nutrients that are lost during the tanning session, keeping your skin smooth and younger looking while helping you maintain the color that you love. Another secret: switch your tanning lotion and boost your color with spray tanning session every two weeks.

Why does my tan fade?
Since a tan occurs in the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin, it is eventually lost during your skin's natural exfoliation process. Every 28-30 days, your skin completely replaces all of its cells, and the cells at the top layer are eventually sloughed off, allowing the new cells to reach the skin's surface. When the old cells are exfoliated, they take with them the darkened melanin that was created by the exposure to UV light. In order to maintain your tan, you must continue to expose your skin to UV light.

Do I have to wear eyewear?
All tanners should wear FDA approved eyewear while tanning. The skin around your eyes is the thinnest skin on your body, and UV light can easily penetrate that skin to reach your eyes. Repeated, unprotected exposure to UV light may cause long-term damage to your eyes, and that is why we require all tanners to wear eyewear every time they tan!

Can I wear contacts while I tan?
As long as you are wearing your FDA approved eyewear, there is no reason why you cannot wear your contact lenses while tanning.

Can I tan if I am pregnant?
While there is not current scientific evidence that expectant mothers cannot tan, this is something that needs to be discussed with your physician beforehand. There are some researchers that believe that the increased production of vitamin D that is produced by exposure to UVB may be beneficial to both the mother and the fetus. But you must also consider the possibility of increased body temperature, which does occur when tanning indoors, just as it does when taking a bath or using a Jacuzzi. Please make sure to discuss this thoroughly with your doctor prior to tanning, because for liability reasons, we will only allow a pregnant woman to tan with written permission from her doctor.

How long can I stay in the tanning bed the first time?
This depends on your Individual and Unique Skin Type.  You will complete a skin type analysis with a Sun Kiss consultant to determine your individual skin type, from level one to six. Based on your skin type, our consultant will recommend and regulate the tanning time that is best for your skin.  Your tanning time also depends on the units that best fit your tanning needs.

How quickly can I increase my tanning time after my first session?
If you do well your first time in the tanning bed and do not experience any redness, most of our clients are able to increase their time by 2-3 minutes each time thereafter until reaching the maximum tan time for that particular bed.

Which beds can I use my first time at the tanning salon?
First time customers may use any level of our UV equipment that suits their needs. Based on your skin type analysis and tanning goals, our consultants will determine your initial tan time and tanning bed. After building a base tan, most of our clients use a combination of units to achieve the best results.

How often can I tan?
You may tan every day if you wish, as long as you wait 24 hours between each tan. This is a manufacturer's recommendation as well as FDA rule in order to prevent overexposure, and it includes outdoor tanning as well. Our system will keep a detailed record of your tanning history, and we will advise you if you have not waited the full 24 hours.

What is Heliotherapy?
Sunlight Has Benefits! People are often confused about tanning. It's not surprising. Some doctors, even dermatologists, are confused or misinformed. The truth is that a sunburn (or erythema) is your skin's worst enemy. Sunburn is an injury to your skin caused by uncontrolled overexposure to ultraviolet light (outdoor sunlight). This injury doesn't turn into a tan.

That's why tanning in an indoor, controlled environment is so much better. It allows you to control exactly what kind of light and how much of it your skin receives. It also allows you to eliminate many environmental variables that can't possibly be controlled outdoors.

• What's even better? There is proven, scientific research to show that controlled UV exposure received in a non-burning fashion outweighs the risks. Here's the research to prove why:
  Tanning beds with UVA and UVB are good sources of Vitamin D. (The Lancet Medical Journal) Sunlight is the only reliable source of Vitamin D and provides the requirements for most of the world's population (Boston University)
• Vitamin D produced from controlled UV exposure is activated in the body by the liver, kidneys, breasts, ovaries, colon and prostate. The activated form tells your cells to grow properly, thereby helping inhibit cancer growth.
  (Dr. Michael Holick, Boston University)
• Regular exposure to controlled UV light treats osteoporosis and osteomalacia.
  (Journal of Gatroneurology)
• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), with symptoms such as sadness, insomnia and carbohydrate cravings, is most common in northern areas where exposure to sunlight in the winter months is significantly decreased.
  (National Institute of Mental Health)
• Exposure to controlled UV light increases the body's ability to metabolize cholesterol, leading to a 13% decrease in blood cholesterol levels (New England Journal of Medicine)
• Studies indicate that exposure to controlled UV light may have similiar effects as exercise: a decrease in blood pressure, a lower resting heart rate, and a 39% increase in the heart's output of blood. (University of Frankfurt, Germany)
• Reports from the National Psoriasis Foundation indicate that 80% of those suffering from this skin disease improve when they are exposed to controlled UV light.
• Ten minutes of exposure to controlled UV light one to three times a week has been demonstrated to reduce the frequency of colds up to 40.3%. (Dr. Z. Kime, Sunlight, World Health Publications)