Suncare

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This week, we will be discussing the importance of protecting your skin when exposing it to UV light. This includes outdoor “natural” sunlight and UV light provided by tanning beds.

Q: Why is SPF important?
A: SPF protects your skin from harmful sun rays that cause sunburn. It can help decrease the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging caused by the sun.

Q: C an I use SPF in the tanning bed?
A: NO, Using SPF in a sun bed is counterproductive. The way that you protect yourself from burning in a sun bed is to decrease the time of the session. We always recommend everyone go two sessions at the same length and never increase their session time by more than two minutes from the last time. Slow and steady wins the race in safe tanning.

Q: How can I protect my skin from sunburn?
A: Using a product with SPF in it can help prevent sunburn if used properly. Know your skin! Apply SPF before you burn and re-apply often enough to prevent your skin from burning. All skin is different and adapts to sunlight differently!

Q: What is the difference between a sunburn and a healthy tan?
A: Tanning occurs when cells in your skin (melanocytes) produce a brown pigment (melanin). This process is caused by exposure to sunlight. Brown pigment can help protect your skin from some of the sun’s harmful rays. Burning is completely unrelated to tanning. The redness and soreness caused by sunburn is a sign that the top layer or layers of your skin have been damaged beyond repair.

Q: How does my sunburn turn to a tan after a few days?
A:  A Sunburn never actually turns into a tan. Once the top layer/layers of skin have been burnt, they cannot be unburnt. Often times when the skin produces a brown/tan color after a sunburn, the top layer of burnt skin has usually peeled away revealing new skin that had less exposure to UV and did not burn.

Q: How can tanning in a sun bed help acclimate your skin to the natural sunlight and help prevent sunburns?
A: Often, clients come into a tanning salon to tan before their vacation to achieve a “base tan”. Tanning in the tanning bed can help acclimate the skin to the sun’s UV rays because it stimulates melanin production. The more melanin present in skin, the easier it will be for skin to absorb UV light. Tan skin is less likely to burn.  Melanin is what causes skin to look tan. Whether you are using a tanning bed or tanning outdoors, it is never okay to burn your skin!!!

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