THE TANNING BEDS

What Sunscreen Is Best For You

2007-08-27T03:55:00.001-07:00

What Sunscreen Is Best For You

Do you live an active lifestyle outside and yet want to remain fresh and glamorous at all times? Usually when you go out regularly in the sun your skin tends to catch a severe tan that seems to become permanent. The best way to escape from such regular tanning is using a sunscreen lotion that will keep you fresh and fair all the time. With beauty becoming an important part of one’s life the variety of sunscreen available in the market saves you from tanning.

Importance of sunscreen for your skin

Sunscreens are important to your skin because whenever you are exposed to sunrays the UV rays constantly tend to burn your skin thereby giving you a constant tan. Basically even at low exposure levels the UVA rays from the sun destroys your skins support structure, breaks down collagen and causes wrinkles and sagging of skin. The sunscreens save you from tanning, sagging and wrinkling of your skin. So everyone should use a sunscreen to save his or her own self.

While you use a sunscreen you should know which one is best for you. If you simply want protection from UVA and UVB rays then look for a sunscreen that will contain either of the three products like zinc oxide, avobenzene and titanium dioxide. The sunscreens are usually made to prevent suntans, sunburns and skin cancers that are caused from the UVB rays of the sun.

When you apply the sunscreen lotions, creams and liquids, they penetrate into the inner depths of the skin and protect the upper layers where actually skin cancer is formed. They also help retain the moisture in the skin and prevent severe wrinkling and sagging even at old ages.

Sunscreen that best suits your skin

The sunscreens should contain SPF factor, which determine how much protection your skin will get at a time. The more the number of SPF factor is the more protection it provides to the skin. For example SPF 15 prevents burning of skin while SPF 30 prevents aging, wrinkling and sagging of skin. However you should know which sunscreen is best for your skin:
 Meroxyl rich sunscreen – protect your skin from immature wrinkles.
 A+ sunscreen – an ultra protection water based sunscreen that should be applied with moisturizer and foundation if you want protection against suntans.
 Body sunscreen – a long lasting lotion that prevents wrinkles, sagging and suntan in the full body.
 For dry skin – use sunscreen with SPF 30 that guards skin against aging and skin cancer.
 For oily skin – if you want oil free skin use noncomedogenic sunscreen with SPF 15 or even higher for better results.
 Facial sunscreens – the moisturizing day care sunscreen lotions and creams with SPF 15 and 30 are best for any type of facial skin types.

You should apply the sunscreen with SPF 15 at least even if it’s a cloudy day or you are staying inside your home.
Following are the other specifications of using sunscreen lotion:
 Look for the words “broad spectrum protection” in the labels.
 Apply more sunscreen when you are in reflective surfaces like water, snow and ice.

Knowing the utility of the best sunscreen lotions use them to achieve maximum comfort and protection from the harmful sunrays.

Tips On Tanning and Directions For Tanning Effectively

2007-08-27T03:53:00.001-07:00

Tips On Tanning and Directions For Tanning Effectively

Tanning is a natural response to the skin’s exposure to ultra-violet light that we easily get from sunlight. These ultraviolet rays are essential for our skin. However, excessive exposure can cause wrinkles and scars on the skin. With the relaxing and warm effect, tanning can also help in reducing stress, and help soothe muscular aches and pains.

It doesn’t matter whether you prefer natural sun tanning or indoor tanning with artificial ultraviolet rays. Following some easy directions and simple tips, you can have a wonderful experience of tanning.

Here are some general tips on sun tanning:
• Start with 5-10 minutes sessions, twice a day, and gradually increase the time.
• Avoid tanning when the sun is at its maximum strength – between 11 am to 2:30 pm.
• Apply sunscreen on your skin before you start tanning. Do not apply lotion or cream after burning a bit.

Choose your soap carefully

Clean your skin completely before tanning and for that select your soap carefully. Chemical soaps like bars or fragrant soaps can make you clean but also make your skin dry since using these chemical soaps dehydrates your skin. Use a good, gentle but effective soap like liquid soap, for it is less harsh on your skin but clean your skin effectively.

Exfoliate before you tan

To get the best results of tan, exfoliate prior to exposure. Try to remove as many dead skin cells as possible before tanning. But don’t forget to moisturize after exfoliate.

Shave prior to exposure

If you require shaving, do it before you tan because shaving acts will leave your skin fresh and smooth. The effect of tan will be best if you shave skin prior. It is also recommended that you do the shaving a few hours before tanning so that the skin gets a chance to recover.

Use sunscreen lotion and moisturizer

Using sunscreen lotion is important for tanning, as it protects your skin from direct effect of ultraviolet ray. A good moisturizer is also required for your skin for a tan. However, you have to use a high-quality sunscreen lotion and moisturizer to prevent skin damage. The lotion should also be free of fragrances and be hypoallergenically tested to ensure that you have minimum risk of being allergic to it.

Lotions, loaded with moisturizing agents can also keep your skin soft and hydrated. Many of the lotions contain bronzers that help to darken your tan.

Have a shower after tanning

Having a bath or shower after tanning is the best way to remove oils and lotions from your skin. It also helps in removing any perspiration or salts that are usually deposited on your skin. However, the shower should not be too hot and make sure you apply a good moisturizer after toweling dry.

The cardinal rule of tanning is never burn yourself. Sunburn is the enemy associated with permanent skin damage. So never burn yourself intentionally. There is a false assumption that sunburn will fade eventually into tans. But this is not correct. Sunburn is the damage on your tanned skin.

Do not tan everyday. Allow a minimum of 24 hours to pass before tanning again – indoors or outdoors. This will repair minor damage of your skin and to create melanin and a tan.

Tanning tip for college guys

2007-08-22T23:40:00.000-07:00

Here are some tips to keep your body looking good in tanner skin

1) Before you tan, shave any body hair that you may later shave. Hair keeps the sun's rays from hitting your skin. You can read info on shaving body hair and trimming pubic hair.

2) Before you tan, use a loofah or similar tool to rub off dead skin from your body.

3) If you are tanning in a tanning bed within 48 hours prior to your photo shoot, be sure to be very clear about asking the intensity and age of the bulbs. Showing up to a photo shoot with red skin ruins everyone's time!

4) Add moisturizer before or after you tan. Remember, you are drying out your skin by tanning. Moisturizer keeps water in your skin.

5) Drink lots of water beforehand and make sure a fan is running near the tanning bed.

6) If you are using a tanning bed, you should cover your crotch. The skin on your scrotum is very sensitive. You can either fold your underwear and place it on your crotch to blocks the rays or put your penis and scrotum inside a stretchable sock.

Don't Get Too Dark

Tan lines are bad, but it is possible to get too dark of a tan. Besides being a cancer hazard and aging your skin prematurely, dark tans sometimes do not mesh well with male model photography and definition of skin tone is lost. Male models can appear as a silhouette on film, so do not overdo it.

Do Not Tan Your Face

Most importantly, do not tan your face. If you wish to tan yur body, go ahead, but cover your face with a towel in the tanning bed. Tanning ages you and shortens the number of years during which you are hot.

Add a sunsrcreen in the morning - even on winter days. When tanning in a tanning bed or outdoors, cover your face with a towel.

Apply Moisturizer

Most importantly, apply moisturizing lotion to your face skin. Your skin is an organ that stretches and should not be dried out.

Avoiding Tan Lines on your upper body and arms

Male models should avoid tan lines by tanning nude. When the job needs to get done, sometimes you cannot worry about who is around. If you don't feel comfortable wearing briefs in public or cannot find a location to tan nude outdoors, tan in the shortest shorts available or limit yourself to tanning booths.

If you must be in the sunlight for extended periods of time, wear long pants. It is better to block sun from your legs completely than to develop a tan line from shorts. Be sure to go shirtless or add sunscreen on your arms if you are wearing a shirt. Showing up to a photo shoot with tan lines from a tank top is very bad.

Tan Lines On Butt and Legs Frequent Problem

A frequent challenge in the past has been avoiding "shorts-type" tan lines — the untanned area on your legs that extends past your buttocks from wearing shorts in the sun. Avoid tan lines from wearing shorts! It doesn't look appealing in photographs in which a model wears underwear and prevents him from showing his rear end. You can read how to correct tan lines on your legs using a tanning bed.

Tanning-Advisor's Indoor Tanning Tips

2007-08-22T22:57:00.000-07:00

Indoor tanning tip #1. Are you using any prescription medications?: blood pressure medications, antibiotics, skin problem medications are just a few categories of drugs you preferably should not be taking if you are tanning or spending lots of time outdoors. Refer to the photosensitizing medication chart in your local tanning salon to be sure the medications you are taking are not listed. These medications can effect the results of your tanning, making it more difficult to tan and you are more prone to burning.

Indoor tanning tip #2. Why you should always use a good quality indoor tanning lotion: It will help your skin to absorb the UV, which will aid in the tanning process. There are also special ingredients that stimulate melanin production, such as Tyrosine, which will give you the most out of every tanning session. Your skin tends to dry out during the tanning process and if you don't use a good quality indoor tanning lotion, your skin will exfoliate faster, become more dry and flaky, and you will lose your tan faster.

So the bottom line: for a deeper, darker, longer lasting tan, you need to use quality indoor tanning lotion. It's best to apply indoor tanning lotion immediately prior to your session or 1-2 hours prior is even better if you can. Applying it ahead of time allows your skin to absorb the lotion better so you will get the best results from your tanning session.

About The Sun...

2007-08-22T22:09:00.001-07:00

Too much sun is not a good thing. But measureable doses can be healthy. To achieve a nice bronzed healthy skin color be sure to keep safe from too much of the the suns harmful rays. Or at least don't over do it in the sun. Try using an indoor tanning facility to get measurable amounts of UV based upon your skin type.

If you are wondering what products to use, or what articles to read, or if you simply want to learn more about tanning and skin care, here are the 6 most popular articles (and not necessarily the best -- some are simply harder to find)...

Your Desktop Fun-without-the-sun Buddy

2007-08-22T21:53:00.000-07:00

Here at ThinkGeek, we fully understand the sun isn't always your best friend. But, unlike vampire rats, the sun is not PURE evil. It does have a few redeeming qualities. Like sunspots and eclipses. It's also used to grow your own 1up Mushrooms. Some people even tunnel sun rays through a magnifying glass to set leaves, insects and ladyfingers in a glorious blaze. One of the strangest qualities of the Sun, however, is that it can make the color of your skin change. And while it is very dangerous to the cells in your epidermis, this practice of changing ones skin color purportedly makes you more socially acceptable in general and desireable to the opposite sex. What geek doesn't want that?

If you get into the deep chemical and engineering science of this process, you'll soon figure out that it's the UV rays that cause this skin color change. And, lucky for you, UV rays are easy to produce in mass quantities of lamps built in China and sold on ThinkGeek. Yay!

Don't let the sun have the monopoly on making people love you more. Get the USB Desktop Tanning center and, in the comfort of your own cubicle, a scrumptiously golden tone can be yours in about the same time it takes you to update your lame blog with another meaningless entry that nobody will ever read. Ever.

Features:

Two base units attach to either side of your monitor
4 WOLFFE Ultra-violet 100 watt bulbs
USB Powered
Variable rate knob features three settings (Powder, Tea, Malignant)
Comes with eyeball cover thingies!

Sun Tanning Tips

2007-08-21T23:10:00.000-07:00

Every summer I just wait for the first hot day when I can lay out and start to tan all that white skin away! The truth of the matter is that the older I’ve gotten the harder it is to get a deep, dark tan that I love. Why? Because the skin collegan layer thins as we age and is less prone to tan.But that's OK. I"m not going to beat my skin to try and get darker than my skin will tan.

My sister got married last year and before I left her reception my darling dad pulled me aside and told me he had a lesion on his nose. After years of working in the blistering sun, gardening, fixing things, building things or hanging out on the beach he had developed a benign basal cell cancer on his nose. Luckily the doctors were able to cut out the cancer changing the shape of his nose forever.

How do you avoid these pit falls when tanning? Many people would say to avoid the sun altogether. Research has shown, however, that there are benefits to sun exposure. The benefits include the UVB wavelengths kick off the chemical and metabolic chain reaction that produces vitamin D, which promotes bone health. Some people also receive another benefit from letting some sun hit their skin: it helps reverse seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which is usually caused by lack of sunlight. Sunlight is also linked to better moods because it releases a mood lifting chemical in your brain to help you literally cheer up!

To tan safely without burning follow these steps:

1. Start with 10 or 15 minutes of exposure to the sun and gradually increase the time as your body becomes more tanned.

2. Start with a sunscreen with an SPF factor of under 15, but no less than 8. Avoid items with titanium oxide or zinc oside. Late data shows these ingredients may cause free radical damage.

3. If you are prone to burn outside, consider a tanning salon. When properly administered, theis allows you to build a protective base tan without burning.

4. Keep skin moisturized with after-sun lotion - preferably with aloe - to make your tan last.

5. If you notice your starting to burn put on a hat, cover up, or go inside!

6. Some medications (especially acne medications) lower your resistance to sun.

7. If you are light-skinned/fair, you are more prone to sunburn than people with darker complexions so take extra precautions

Remember tanning and sunshine have their benefits but even one burn increases your risk for skin cancer so be smart about tanning and you’ll be sure to enjoy a great summer!

Tanning Beds vs. Natural Sunlight

2007-08-19T03:18:00.000-07:00

Tanning beds have a different ratio of UVA to UVB radiation than sunlight does. Furthermore, the radiation levels are more intense, requiring individuals to limit their exposure to very brief periods. One unanswered question is: what is the effect on the human body when it is forced to absorb such a large amount of UVA radiation in such a short amount of time? For example, one study found that the amount of UVA radiation, which penetrates deeper into the skin, was anywhere from about 3-8 times greater in the tanning beds than in the light from the sun.
While there appears to be a link between indoor tanning beds and cancer, the connection is not possible to indisputably prove because people who tan indoors also tan outdoors. Furthermore, cancer shows up decades after exposure. Last, there is a genetic component to skin cancer. None of this changes the fact that there are risks associated with exposure to UVA and UVB for anyone who is exposed for any length of time, regardless of whether or not they burn (see above for the description of the process by which ultraviolet light damages DNA).
Last, while living in a constantly sunny climate may confer some benefits, intermittent exposure to strong sunlight may be more important in the etiology of melanoma than chronic long-term exposure. Therefore the "weekend" tanner and the tanner vacationing with its increased UV radiation are all at greater risk due to the intermittent nature of such exposure.

History

2007-08-19T03:11:00.000-07:00

Although tanning beds were initially brought to America by Friedrich Wolff in 1978, he soon patented his particular blend of phosphors (since expired) and began licensing the technology tanning beds to other companies. Wolff Systems has since devoted all their resources into lamp technology and development. Some of the early adopters of the Wolff technology include ETS, Inc., SCA, Sun Industries, Inc., Montego Bay, Sunal. Later, Friedrich sold Wolff Systems to his brother Jorg Wolff, who was the founder of Cosmedico, Ltd., another pioneer in the tanning industry.
Initially, tanning beds were virtually unregulated in the US, but in 1988 (and later updated in 1999) the primary source of regulation at the federal level was 21 CFR 1040.20. This law was designed primarily to ensure that all tanning beds sold or used in salons adhered to a general set of safety rules, with the primary focus on tanning bed and lamp manufacturers in regards to maximum exposure times and product equivalence. It is left up to each individual state to determine the regulations for salons themselves, and as such, many states are still not regulated beyond these basic federal rules.
Several companies continue to license the Wolff name and use their lamps because of the name recognition, although this has steadily diminished over the years as other lamp builders have created lamps that are arguably as good as or better. Licensing is not required to use Wolff lamps, but it is required to call a tanning bed a "Wolff System" and use the Wolff System logo, a yellow circle with horizonal bars and the name "Wolff Systems" in black. Tanning beds that use Wolff products but do not pay royalties can use only the term "Powered by Wolff," which is unique in the industry.
Most modern tanning beds have not changed much from the original systems. The lamp technology and electronics have evolved over the years, but the basic "low pressure" tanning bed has not evolved. The original electronics used in the first tanning beds, both "European choke" and magnetic, are still in use today although there are now many other choices including electronic and high frequency. The lamps are still fluorescent type, using special phosphors that create a spectum in the UVA and UVB range although there has been a great deal of advancement over the years to make the light spectrum they emit more "sun-like".
The first original tanning beds lamps were discovered by accident in 1903 by a German company called Heraeus who were developing lighting systems for the home and for industrial usage. These lamps were of the high-pressue metal halide variety. They discovered that the light that was developed for visible light purposes also emitted ultra-violet light. In the 1920s and 1930's they (Heraeus) first started to market and sell single lamp, self standing tanning/wellness devices. The first high-pressure tanning beds incorporating more than a single high-pressure lamp were manufactured in the mid to late seventies by companies such as Ultrabronz and JK Ergoline and in the 1980s the first high-pressure units were exported to the United States.
These units require special filter glass to remove the UVC and the majority of the UVB that is emitted and are difficult to manufacture because the alignment of the lamps is more critical than in traditional low-pressure tanning beds. They are generally large units, with a padded area to lie on or an acrylic and 6 to 36 lamps in a canopy or canopy and bench configuration, the tanning effect is much deeper and requries only a maintenance exposure of about 2-3 times per month compared to every 48 hours for regular tanning beds. They are much more expensive to operate, thus more expensive for the user. Retail prices in the $20,000 to $35,000 range are common with individual sessions costing $20 to $45, depending on the market.