Tanning 101

The key difference between indoor and outdoor sun exposure is that indoor tanning takes place in a highly controlled environment-the lamp’s spectrum produces a carefully balanced  amount of ultraviolet light. In a tanning unit, the amount and characteristics of the energy you receive are consistent. Unlike outdoor sun, you always know  how much ultraviolet light you receive.

The tanning process and the energy produced from indoor and outdoor tanning are the same, but the light spectra are different. In most U.S. made equipment, indoor tanning relies on lamps that  emulate a light spectrum similar to that of the sun.

Other benefits that differentiate indoor tanning from outdoor exposure are convenience, privacy, relaxation, and control of environment (i.e., elimination of the dust, chemicals, and other  particles present in the outdoor air). Indoor tanning eliminates variables such as season, time of day, reflection, and atmospheric conditions. Another difference between indoor and outdoor tanning is that indoor exposure programs  can be tailored to individual needs with regard to skin type and previous  exposure experience.

Tanning Recommendations

You should not tan every day. You  should have at least a 48-hour time interval between indoor tanning sessions and  also between outdoor exposures. It takes as long as 24 hours for pigmentation and any skin reddening to become fully visible, and the responsible tanner should observe his/her skin’s reaction after exposure in order to determine if subsequent exposure is advisable. Generally, two to three regular weekly  sessions of indoor exposure are recommended to maintain a tan.

Indoor and outdoor tanning must be done in moderation. A beautiful tan is achievable without overexposure.  Reddening is the body’s warning that the skin has been overexposed to ultraviolet light. Do not ignore this warning. If you continue to expose red skin to ultraviolet rays, the skin’s natural repair mechanism becomes overloaded. This may lead to chronic light-induced skin damage such as  pre-cancer or elastosis, in which the resilient fibers of the lower skin layers are harmed, causing them to sag. If you experience reddening of the skin, do not  tan again until it has subsided-usually 48 hours. The skin must be allowed enough time to repair itself before the next exposure.

One of the best ways to help protect the skin before exposure to a sun-intensive environment is to build a base tan by tanning indoors. A tan is considered to be the body’s internal protection against harm and damage from overexposure.

Tanning Regulations

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates all sun lamps and equipment, whether it is clinical or recreational, prior to use. The FDA requires that sun products have an accurate, functioning timer and safety switch, that protective eye goggles are worn during tanning sessions, and that a warning listing the effects of overexposure and repeated exposure be visible to each customer. The FDA also requires that tanning units be equipped with replacement lamps that are the same as the original equipment lamps or "substantially equivalent" to the original lamps.