Guide to Tanning Smart

3 Key Rules

1. Tan… don’t sunburn.
2. Wear your eyewear.
3. Use tanning lotion for best results.

Just the Facts on Tanning… not Burning:

Tanning is a natural process. Your body is biologically designed to produce melanin, which darkens the skin and is a natural free-radical scavenger. By increasing pigmentation a tan is your body’s natural way of protecting you from sunburn; for most people it can be the equivalent of an SPF 4. Sunburns are a totally different process. A sunburn is an injury; the red colour actually is increased blood flow, which is sent to the skin to help your body repair the damage done by overexposure to ultraviolet light.
Never Sunburn!

Professional Tanning: Professional tanning facilities teach safety precautions.

• Some medications may make skin more susceptible to sunburn; consult your physician and your tanning professional before tanning.
• Your eyes do not tan. Eye damage may occur without the use of properly designed eye protection.
• Tanning professionals will teach you about your numeric skin type. There are six types; the lower the number the higher your risk of burning. Indoor Tanning Equipment: Almost all indoor tanning equipment emits UVA and UVB light, with about 2-6 percent of output being UVB. Exposure schedules are designed to gradually increase your exposure while minimizing the risk of sunburn.
• There is no such thing as artificial UV light. UV generated by the sun and tanning equipment are the same. Tanning equipment is controlled. 18 studies show no statistically significant connection between indoor tanning and melanoma. The largest and most recent study concluded: “Our study confirmed the expected associations between melanoma and fair skin, positive family history and numbers are naive, but did not find a significant association with exposure to the sun and/or sunbeds.” (A Multicentre Epidemiological study on Sunbed use and Cutaneous Melanoma in Europe.)
• Indoor Tanning Lotion: Professional Tanning Lotions are scientifically designed to increase your tanning results. You will Tan Faster, Tan Darker, and maintain your Tan Longer. Tanning lotions help increase the penetration of UV light that may be reflected off because dry skin reflects light. You can increase your tanning results from 30-50% depending your skin type and condition of your skin. Don’t tan dry, find the right product that suits your goals and your budget.
• Wearing Eyewear: Your eyes do not tan. Eye damage may occur without the use of properly designed eye protection. Make sure that your eyewear creates a light-tight seal around your eyes. By tanning without your eyewear you increase your risk of cataracts, loss of night vision, loss of distinction between colours and even increase your vision loss. UV light penetrates about 2-3mm into your skin, your eyelids are not 2-3 mm thick, just closing your eyes is not enough. Be sure to find the right type of eyewear that fits best for your face.
• Sunscreen: Wearing sunscreen or cosmetics with sunscreen in northern climates most of the year totally blocks your body’s ability to product Vitamin D. An SPF 8 blocks 92.5% of Vitamin D production. An SPF 15 blocks 99% of Vitamin D production.
• When it is necessary to use sunscreen to prevent sunburn, use only full, broad spectrum SPF that blocks both UVA and UVB. Do not change what Mother Nature created only reduce the energy so you do not overexpose yourself.
• When wearing SPF outdoors make sure you apply it properly. SPF 15 when applied improperly may only create an SPF 4. Apply 1-2 ounces at a time to get the full protection.
• Tan properly outdoors, don’t sunburn, and protect your eyes. Many professionals suggest getting 15-20 minutes of exposure before you apply your sunscreen. This will help you produce some Vitamin D for your body.
• Canadian Sun: Our Northern latitude makes Vitamin D production nearly impossible from October through March, or four to six months out of the year in Canada. When the UV index is 3 or lower human skin will not make any Vitamin D.
• Healthy Skin: Sunburn prevention – not sun avoidance – is the best way to prevent permanent skin damage. There are other lifestyle factors that greatly affect the health of your skin.
• A high fat diet can increase your risk for skin cancer as much as 90 percent.
• Smoking cigarettes can increase your skin cancer risk up to 50 percent.
• Overexposure: Excessive overexposure to both UVA & UVB may be related to non-melanoma skin cancers. Sunburn prevention is the key