Tanners Lane FAQs about sunbed use

 What are the benefits of using an indoor tanning lotion?

Having healthy skin is essential in ensuring a successful tan.  The tanning lotions at Tanners Lane aim to moisturise the skin before and after tanning to help maintain the healthy glow you’re after.  Looking after your skin is so important, and as the indoor tanning lotion keeps skin moisturised, it helps in keeping your tan for longer, and therefore allowing you to build on it to get a deeper, darker tan.

Moisturising keeps skin subtle, reducing the risk of dry skin flaking away and consequently reducing your tan.  Most tanning lotions have important vitamins and ingredients specifically intended to prolong your tan.  However, it is important to use a product you can trust, as outdated, discontinued or damaged products will not have the same benefits as that from a professional tanning outlet.  Here at Tanners Lane we pride ourselves of ensuring that our clients receive products and care they know they can trust.

Why should I only buy indoor tanning lotion from my salon?

Unauthorized outlets like discount websites, local flea markets or non-tanning outlets run the risk of provided you with a product you cannot trust.  Therefore these wouldn’t necessarily have the ingredients previously discussed to ensure that your tan lasts as long as possible and wouldn’t have the same moisturising qualities necessary for keeping skin in perfect condition to ensure an even and glowing tan.  Please ask a member of our team for more information about the tanning lotions we use here at Tanners Lane, and we’ll be happy to advise you on what would suit you best.

Is indoor tanning safe and regulated?

Simple, yes. Your indoor tanning facility has to follow strict health and safety guidelines. This ensures that equipment is safe and regularly maintained, and therefore reduces unnecessary over exposure to tanning equipment.

What are the different phases that occurs during tanning?

Tanning is the natural response of the skin to Ultraviolet (UV) light exposure. There are two types of tanning, the first happens immediately as soon as skin is exposed to UV light, and the second is a delayed response that occurs 48-72 hours later.

The first stage is known as Immediate Pigment Darkening which occurs during UV exposure and increases until exposure ends. No melanin production is involved, instead this response depends on various factors including previous exposure and skin pigmentation type.  Darker skin will produce a more pronounced effect. The second type is called Delayed Tanning. Delayed tanning occurs 48 -72 hours after exposure and increases for 7 – 10 days. Duration depends on various factors including repeat exposure and may last for several weeks or months.

What is a drug-induced photosensitive reaction?

This is something to be avoided, and occurs due to a reaction to certain medications with the exposure to ultraviolet radiation.  A photosensitive reaction should be considered in people experiencing sunburn of greater severity than would normally be expected for them, or who develop rashes in areas exposed to the sunbed.  As this is an unusual condition to develop after using tanning facilities, it is obviously an area of concern and must be taken seriously to prevent reaction like this in the future.  Consulting a pharmacist on both prescription and non-prescription medications, herbal and other “natural” products and perhaps even cosmetics, shampoos should be advised as these can sometimes make people sensitive to ultraviolet light.  If you have any questions, it is best to consult your GP.

If a tan and a sunburn are different, just what is a sunburn?

Sunburn occurs when the skin is exposed to excessive amounts of UV light. The severity can vary depending on the time exposed, strength of the UV light and an individual’s skin type.  A sunburn is better prevented than treated, as serious cases of sunburn will require medical attention.  Here at Tanners lane we ask all new clients to fill in a short questionnaire to assess their skin type, and typically start our clients on low minutes to prevent the risk of sunburn.  It is our responsibility to ensure the safety of our clients whilst using our sunbeds, and therefore we promote moderate, sensible and responsible exposure to UV light to ensure a great tan in a safe environment.  If you have any questions about this please do not hesitate to ask a member of our team.

Why should I use the protective eye wear provided by my tanning salon?

When proper eye wear is not used during the tanning process, the potential for eye injury is greatly increased. Some eye injuries and disorders include cornea sunburn, cataracts, abnormal tissue growth and damage to the cornea.  For this reason, the use of protective eye wear is greatly encouraged. Tanners lane highly recommends that you use eye protectors every time you use our beds.

Can I tan while I am pregnant?

Every pregnancy is different, and therefore consulting your GP is the best place to start when it comes to indoor tanning during pregnancy.  At this time there are no studies on the effects of using sunbeds during pregnancy, but because the UV light used in sunbeds does not reach the child, your baby is not at risk.  However, during the first trimester your doctor will most likely advise you not to do anything that will raise your body’s temperature, so it may be best to avoid indoor tanning during this period.  It is also important to consider that that your skin during pregnancy is more sensitive to burning, and therefore the use of sunbeds should be more carefully monitored.

Why will my salon not allow me to tan for however long I want? 

With the risks involved in individuals who overexpose themselves to UV light, it is the responsibility of the tanning salon to eliminate the opportunity for consumers to sunburn while visiting an indoor tanning salon. It is also the responsibility of the salon worker to make sure individuals who cannot biologically acquire a tan (skin type 1) do not tan indoors. The promotion of moderate, sensible and responsible exposure to ultraviolet light is the goal of Tanners Lane.

Why doesn’t the skin tan equally all over?

The insides of the arms and legs do not tan as easily because they contain fewer pigment-forming cells than the skin on the rest of the body.  The face does not tan as easily either because it has a naturally thicker Horny layer – providing special protection from UV-B.  Freckles and pigmental moles contain a particularly high amount of tanning pigments and therefore go darker much more quickly than other areas of the skin.

Do tanning accelerators/intensifiers really work?