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Frequently Asked Questions
 



Q: Does tanning cause wrinkles?
A: Wrinkles are caused when the skin's inner elastic tissue begins to break down.  It's sometimes referred to as "aging".  When excessive UV light accelerates the aging process, it's sometimes referred to as "premature aging".  But here's the problem with the term "premature aging":  Everyone's skin ages differently according to your heredity - regardless of your lifetime UV exposure.  After you reach your 20s, your dermis actually begins to break down little by little.  Generally, this process starts earlier for women than it does for men.  So what's the difference between natural aging and "premature aging"?  We believe that diet, lifestyle and repeated sunburn can accelerate that aging process.  And one of the biggest contributors to wrinkles is cigarette smoking.  Your skin gets its nutrition from capillaries - the tiny blood vessels that are often constricted in smokers.  So it's no surprise that smoking hurts your skin.  But why is it that some older people have tan skin and no wrinkles, while some people have more wrinkles.  The answer is heredity.
Q: Does tanning damage your skin?
A: Tanning is your body's natural protection against sunburn - it is what your body is designed to do.  Many have referred to this process as "damage" to your skin, but calling a tan "damage" is a dangerous oversimplification.  Here is why:
  • Calling a tan damage to your skin is like calling exercise damage to your muscles.  Consider, when one exercises you are actually tearing tiny muscle fibers in your body.  On the surface, examined at the micro-level, that could be called "damage".  But that damage on the micro-level is your body's natural way on the macro-level of building stronger muscle tissue.  So to call exercise "damaging" to muscles would be terribly deceiving.  The same can be said of sun exposure:  Your body is designed to repair any damage to the skin caused by ultraviolet light exposure.  Developing a tan is its natural way to protect against the dangers of sunburn and further exposure.
  • Saying that any ultraviolet light exposure causes skin damage is a dangerous oversimplification.  It would be like saying that since water causes drowning, humans should avoid all water.  Yes, water causes drowning, but our bodies also need water;  we would die without it.  Similarly, we need sun exposure; we would die without it.

It is the professional indoor tanning industry's position that sunburn prevention is a more effective message than sun avoidance, which ultimately encourages abuse.  it is a responsible, honest approach to the issue.

Q: Is it really possible to 'cook' your organs?
A: The greatest urban myth in the history of indoor tanning is the story of a young woman who supposedly 'cooks' her insides by visiting several tanning salons in one day.  The myth is that she microwaved her internal organs.  But it's just a myth.  You can't cook anything in a tanning bed.  That's because microwaves do not behave like ultraviolet light.  To prove this point, Smart Tan arranged indoor tanning's "Great American Cook-Off" in 2002.  Salon owners all across North America put food on their tanning bed acrylics - hamburgers, pork chops, chicken wings, steak, and eggs.  Then they turned on the tanning units for several hours at a time.  NOTHING happened!  That's because ultraviolet light CAN'T cook food.  And it can't cook your internal organs - after all, it doesn't penetrate your body past your skin.  So, the legend of the roasted tanner is nothing but a myth.  We do not 'cook', 'fry', or 'bake' you...we TAN your skin. :)
Q: Can I tan while I'm pregnant?
A: The decision to tan while pregnant is ultimately up to the individual and her OB/GYN.  Many people are concerned about pregnant women tanning indoors.  The most common concern involves the myth that ultraviolet light waves could penetrate to the unborn child.  When the facts about UV light are understood, it is easy to see that this simply isn't possible.  The UVA emitted by the average tanning bed penetrates about 2mm deep - or about the thickness of cardboard.  That means that it does not go behond the dermis, or middle layer, of the skin.  UVB does not even get that far.  Another main concern about tanning and pregnancy is the heat generated from a tanning bed.  Pregnant women are advised to be cautious with saunas, whirlpool baths, or hot tubs and the hot summer sun because excessive heat may make them uncomfortable and, according to some studies, may increase the risk of some birth defects.  While tanning beds can get pretty warm, most provide ample ventilation and exposure durations are relatively short, 15-20 minutes at most.
  • Consult your OB/GYN
  • Drink plenty of fluids and avoid excessive heat

A breast-feeding mother will notice some heightened sensitivity and will want to cover the nipple area while tanning.  Another concern for breast-feeding new moms is moisture loss.  As with any activity, tanning causes some loss of moisture.  It is recommended to drink extra fluids, preferably water.  There is no medical evidence that tanning while lactating can dry up a mother's milk.

Q: Why do I feel better after I've tanned indoors?
A: Did you know that during the winter months, 35 million Americans suffer from the condition known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, or S.A.D.?  Commonly referred to as a serious case of the 'winter blues', symptoms may include sleepiness, loss of appetite, decrease in energy and other signs of depression.  These warning signs generally begin in fall and continue through the darker, colder months if left untreated.  The Good News - "Bright light" therapy has been prescribed successfully to bring S.A.D. folks out of the doldrums in recent years.  Important brain chemicals affecting our mood are brouoght back into balance with increased light exposure.  That's the Power of Light...
Q: How old do you have to be to tan indoors?
A: Michigan State Law (Dept. of Community Health) Section 13407 (1) - Section 13407 (2) States:
  • Age 13 and under requires a parent's signed permission (in person), and that the parent is present while tanning - every time.
  • Ages 14-15 requires a parent's signed persmission (in person) but the parent is not required to be present during tanning.
  • Ages 16-17 requires a parent's signed permission (a dated and signed note may be brought in)

Project Smart Teen

This salon voluntarily participates in "Project Smart Teen."  Why?  Because it's important that teens and their parents understand the difference between sunburn and tanning in moderation, both indoors and outdoors.  This salon is trained and equipped to help you learn to prevent sunburn as a part of your intelligent, active lifestyle.

  • Young skin is more susceptible to sunburn than adult skin, so it is especially important that teens who choose to tan practice Smart Tanning and sunburn prevention.
  • Studies have shown that teens who tan in tanning facilities are less likely to sunburn outdoors compared to non-tanners.
  • Teens use tanning facilities in the spring to build base tans that - combined with sunscreen usage - help prevent sunburn on spring break, vacations, and in summer months more effectively than sunscreen usage alone.  A recent study revealed that 83% of teens who tan indoors prior to taking sunny vacations report that their indoor tan, combined with the proper use of sunscreen, helped them to prevent sunburn.
  • Science suggests that burning at an early age may increase your risk of skin damage later in life, but there is no hard data to suggest that tanning alone is more dangerous for any specific age group.

Q: What is "Smart Tanning"?

Teaching tanners and non-tanners of all ages how to avoid sunburn as a lifelong commitment is one of this professional tanning facility's primary objectives, and what we call Smart Tanning.

Tanning vs. Burning

People used to believe that sunburn was just an inevitable part of starting a tan.  Some actually think you have to burn before you can tan.  Today, we know how wrong that belief is, and we know that your skin can be temporarily or permanently damaged by burning.

Tanning is a natural process - your body is designed to produce melanin, which darkens the skin.  A tan is a gradual increase in natural skin pigmentation and is your body's natural way of building up protection against the injury of sunburn.  Sunburn is a totally different process.  Sunburn is an injury; the red color actually is increased blood flow, which is sent to the skin to help your body repair the damage done by overexposure to ultraviolet light.  We believe the practice of Smart Tanning leads to better sunburn prevention than simply avoiding the sun altogether.  And research supports this belief.

Smart Tanning's 7 Steps to live by:

  1. Avoid Sunburn.  The Golden Rule of Smart Tanning is the indispensable rule:  Don't ever sunburn.  Work with your tanning facility to build your tan gradually.
  2. Know Your Skin Type.  A professional tanning facility will teach you your skin type on a scale from Type I to VI and what that number means.
  3. Use Sunscreen Correctly.  Use sunscreen outdoors correctly - even if you tan indoors.  Apply a full-spectrum sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays before heading outside for best results.  You CAN develop a tan outdoors while wearing sunscreen.
  4. Protect Your Eyes.  When outside, protect your eyes with sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays.  Always wear proper indoor tanning protective eyewear when tanning in a salon.
  5. Be Serious About Your Medications.  Some medications (including many antibiotics, acne medications, and birth control pills) can make your skin more susceptible to sunburn and splotches.  Talk to your tanning salon staff if you are taking any medications.
  6. Practice Makes Perfect.  Avoiding  sunburn is an everyday job.  Make sunburn protection a habait.
  7. Give Yourself Time To Tan.  Important events like prom, spring break, vacation, weddings, and graduation take time to get ready for...so does tanning.  Talk to your salon staff to get on a schedule that works for your skin type and your tanning goals.

For more information, go to www.TanningTruth.com