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Archive for the ‘Sun Tanning’ Category

Many people long for a perfectly tanned look. But sun tanning can at the same time lead to many health hazards. Skin cancer is one of the negative aspects of sun tanning. It can also make the skin age prematurely. For those who want to avoid sun tanning here are some simple tips.

Sun burns are skin damages. They damage the outer layer of the skin which can lead to serious complications later on. So, avoid getting sun burns.

Apply sun block to protect your skin from the harmful effects of UVA and UVB. Use a block with a SPF or Sun Protection Factor of at least 15, but preferably greater. Put the lotion on about 20 to 30 minutes before going outside so that the skin can absorb it properly. After swimming and toweling off or excessive sweating, reapply the sunscreen. Choose the right sun block for your skin. A person who perspires a lot because of sports related activities should apply a sun block formulated for these activities only whereas the swimmers can use water resistant sun block.

10:00AM to 3:00PM is the period of the day when the sun is hottest. So, avoid going out in the sun in this period.

If your skin is very sensitive get a hypoallergenic sun block for yourself.

Wear clothes that cover your body properly while spending a great deal of time outdoor. Protect your eyes by wearing dark sunglasses. Wear a hat to protect your face from sun burns.

Don’t forget your lips. Your lips have skin on them which can get sun burnt or becomes chapped. Both ways it will look ugly. So, use a lip moisturizer with sun protection factor for your lips.

Chances of getting a sun tan get magnified in water. So, spend as little time as possible in water. Use a sun block each time you dive into the water.

Extra precaution has to be taken by people with fair skin, moles, and freckles or with history of sun tanning badly. Children under sixteen years of age with family history of skin cancer should avoid sun exposure.

Some precatory words for those who enjoy sun tanning and like the sun tanned look.

The sun’s ultraviolet rays are the most threatening component of a natural sun tan. So, if you start your skin tanning routine during summer then limit your exposure to sun to 15 minutes initially. Increase the time limit as your skin starts getting adjusted to the heat gradually. Do not stay outside for more than two hours at a time.

Get a sun protection lotion with SPF less than 15 but more than 7. It will provide required minimum protection to your skin. Moisturize your skin with after sun lotion.

Those with fair skin are more prone to sun burn than the dark skinned. So, they should avoid sun exposure during the peak hours.

Remember to wear sunglasses while tanning to protect your eyes from the scorching rays of noon sun.

Scrub your body with a loofah pad and get rid of the dead skin before applying the tanning lotion. Test it on a small area of your body for adverse reactions before applying the tanning lotion all over your body. Apply the lotion with slow and deliberate strokes to the back of your knees, elbows, ankles and tan lines. Wipe away extra lotion to get an even bronzed look. Wash hands or gloves thoroughly with soap and water after applying sun tanning lotion and wait at least 15 minutes before getting your skin wet.

Long gone are the days of low-protection sun tan lotion, meant to deeply bronze the skin of the wearer. Today sun tan lotion works as a screen against the most harmful rays of the sun, though there are many that still allow color to develop in the skin.

Historically, sun tan lotion has been in existence since the late 1930s, but it has only been in the past few decades that it has been applied as a product meant to protect and enhance the appearance of the skin. More and more safe and organic compounds are finding their way into these products, and yet many are able to be applied before going swimming or performing activities that may induce perspiration. This means that the advances in sun tan lotion chemistry are making consumers safer than ever before.

In addition to sun tan lotion and its protections to the flesh of the body, there are now lip balm and cosmetic products such as facial makeup with the same UV blocking elements in their ingredients as well.

Why all of the fuss? Sun tan lotion protects the skin from the harmful rays of the sun, meaning that it eliminates freckles and reduces the chance of sun burns, but additionally offers people some defense against certain skin cancers that develop from prolonged or frequent exposure to the sun.

There are certain people, including babies and children, who should never be exposed to the sun without adequate sun tan lotion applied. Additionally, there are specific areas of the body that tend to suffer greatly from sun exposure, and these include:



The back of the neck

The forearms (especially if driving a vehicle for a long period of time)

The skin of the face, neck and upper chest

Infrequently exposed areas like the shoulders, buttocks and backs of legs



Each of these areas is extremely sensitive to the damages from sun exposure and even a single, bad sunburn can produce devastating effects.

To choose the best sun tan lotion it is important to consider the type of skin and the activities that will be performed when wearing it. For example, a fair or light skinned person, intending to spend a day out on a boat will need to choose a higher UVB and UVA sun tan lotion to ensure complete protection during their day in the sun.

Each sun tan lotion has a numeric value assigned to it, the higher the number the better the sun protection, and most skin doctors and physicians believe that anything with a value of fifteen or less is the same as going without sun tan lotion at all. Additionally, if a sun tan is desired it is best to darken the skin in stages, making sure that adequate moisture is retained in the skin and that no burning or “overexposure” occurs on any given day. It is impossible to spend time in the sun without getting some skin coloration from it, but it is important to protect the health of the skin as much as possible, and sun tan lotion is the only solution.

The question about whether any sort of sun tan is safe is one that’s asked constantly and brings a different answer depending on who you ask.

Recently U.S. and British researchers reviewed published studies and noticed that both tans and skin cancer start with changes to the DNA that comes from ultraviolet light. “The signals in the cells that induce sun tanning appear to be DNA damage,” said Dorothy Bennett, a cell biologist at St. George’s University of London. She insists that anything that causes mutations in the cells will increase your risk of cancer. The link between skin cancer and tans that come from the sun or tanning booths is well documented, but the new study presents the idea that even a little bit of exposure of either kind can be dangerous.

The World Health Organization estimates that 60,000 people die each year from exposure to too much ultraviolet light. According to the information provided on the site, “A large number of studies indicate that the risk of malignant melanoma correlates with genetic and personal characteristics, and a person’s UV exposure behaviour.”

Beyond the skin cancer risk, exposure to the sun speeds up aging, cataracts and other eye problems, and may even reduce the effectiveness of the immune system.

Here are some surprising things you might want to know about sun tanning:

- Your tan is your body’s defense against further UV damage.

- The protection of sunscreens depends more than anything on applying them correctly.

- A deep tan only provides an estimated SPF of 4.

- UV exposure is cumulative over a day.

- UV radiation can’t be felt; a hazy sky or water can enhance your exposure.

But don’t we need some sun exposure?

The sun brings us light, heat and UV radiation, which aren’t all bad. UVB rays from the sun help our bodies convert precursor chemicals into vitamin D – giving us about 90% of what we need. Deficiencies of vitamin D are very common, and without enough of this essential nutrient, you’re at risk for developing many serious diseases including osteoporosis and some cancers, infectious disease and heart disease.

“Sun is crucial to your overall physical and mental well-being,” says Dr. Michael F. Holick, author of The UV Advantage, and professor of Medicine, Dermatology, Physiology and Biophysics at Boston University Medical Center. Holick is the expert who uncovered evidence that vitamin D is produced by sun exposure and is necessary to say healthy.

So what to do? Too much sun exposure increases your skin cancer risk, too little puts you at risk for not having the vitamin D your body needs.

Here’s the way to strike a balance:

- Get natural sunlight in the off peak hours – early morning or later in the afternoon. Be sure to apply (and re-apply) any sunscreen you use when you’re out in the sun during peak hours – 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

- Avoid tanning beds and the risks of UV exposure (and DNA damage), especially important for younger women.

- Get that golden, sun tan glow from sunless tanning products that are safe to use (they don’t enter the body) so long as you follow the package directions.

As far back as recorded history man has had this unusual, special and reverent respect for the environment, especially the sun. This can be seen in primitive societies where people even worshipped it because doing so could warm their souls and also gave them a full harvest. During modern times, people revere it because it makes them feel better. It also provides needed energy and is important for mental and physical operations.

However, what is undeniably obvious with society today is the love for sun tanning. Although this kind of activity hasn’t always been historically popular, it has constantly been a very common practice, even amongst people of different cultures. If you’re curious about the history of sun tanning, read on and learn how people started this kind of obsession with golden brown skin.



It’s All About The Skin

So, what exactly is it about having bronzed skin that pushes you and many other people to sit under the sun for long hours? Both women and men have been on the pursuit for darker skin for years now; however, the days of this well loved activity actually go back further in time than anyone probably realized.

It is definite that civilization today is not the first to take advantage of the rays that the sun gives off, nor is it the first to present a love of showing off golden-brown skin.

Worshipping the sun has been a practice ever since the time of the Sumerians, Romans and Greeks. Although it could be quite arguable and hard to pin point which of them were the ones who started this fad and when it really started, most books that you read would tell you just the same.

The Sun God And His So-Called Wonders

It was believed that the Roman Mythology’s god of the sun is Helios, which is where “heliotherapy” was coined. This activity is a therapeutic exposure to the sun and a term that is widely used today. Ancient civilization used to engage in tanning because they believed it made them more attractive. It’s also said that people who engaged in it felt healthier than before. Hence, they praised the sun because it has the ability to “cure” various illnesses at that time.

It’s A Cycle

The popularity of tanning is considered to be a cycle. There was a period in time in which having bronze skin was not a status symbol. The popularity of having pale looking skin hit the market for some time, but, just like other trends, having tanned skin came back and remains until now.

The Downfall Of Sunbathing

The point in time when having brown skin had a decline is when having a paler skin became a status symbol. This is because most royal blood in various civilizations avoided the sun and enjoyed having paler skin. Having colored skin on the other hand became a status that was associated with slaves or other lower class people. Hence, as the 10th century came, people, especially women, went to extremes just to whiten their skin.

A Brand New Perspective

At the turn of the 20th century societal preferences changed once more; all thanks to the French people. A lot of credit goes to the popular Coco Chanel, who introduced sun tanning to modern society back in the 1920s. She was on vacation when she got tanned accidentally. Being a trend setter and naturally beautiful, many people loved the new look that she sported.

Lifestyle and fashion were also changing during this time. People were learning to love spending time outdoors. Fashion trends were also beginning to be more daring as more skin showed and figures were adorned. Hence, tanning became a popular way of admiring women’s figures. It also became a way of improving ones profile especially when wearing skimpy clothes.

The trend continued on until sun tanning oils came out in the 1940s. Consumers loved the product and became even more of a hit when advertisements that featured tanned women wearing two-piece bathing suits were set up almost everywhere.

We have become a nation of sun worshipers. The golden tan is akin to the national symbol of beauty, and some will do anything to attain it. The sun is very dangerous to your skins health, sure it may feel nice to be warm under the sun. However in actual fact it can be very damaging to your skin and dangerous to your health.

Sun tans are still popular, even though the sun causes damage to your skin. The trick is to tan safely, protecting your skin as much as possible whilst still working on your tan.

When its summer its such a nice feeling, I do not think very many people like the winter. In the summer we do not have to wear the thick clothes, and we can stay outside for longer! We can even have barbeques outside.

The best way to protect your skin from the sun is to use a suntan lotion, but have you ever actually tried to buy one? It can be so confusing! What is a SPF? And what is a UV? There are so many different terms which all add to our confusion.

A natural tan happens because your skin absorbs the UV radiation given off by the sun, this radiation passes through your skin and damages it. Melanin is produced by melanocytes in the skin which makes the skin darken. Almost everybody associates a tan with being healthy, but in actual fact the exact opposite is true. A tan occurs because your skin is already damaged.

The number of UV rays that reach the earth changes each and every day, if you have noticed on the weather report, they will often give a UV index. This shows how many UV rays are reaching the earth at any given time.

UV is invisible, but it is always present. Even during cloudy, overcast days there is still UV light around. Ultraviolet light can be split into two categories, UVA and UVB, both are actually dangerous. Sometimes Ultraviolet light is used to treat certain medical conditions.

Ok so how do you interpret the UV index? Well it is on a scale of 10. The higher the number, the more rays that will reach earth. The higher the index, the less time it will take to burn. And, therefore, the higher the number, the easier it is for you to receive a bad skin burn which can lead to precancerous and canserous growths (especially nodular melanoma – the deadliest of all the skin cancer types with a mortality rate of over 95%).

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) November 23, 2008 – Looking our best is more than a trend as more and more people have taken a greater interest in their personal health appearance. No longer just a matter for individual longevity, but as a way to giving yourself an edge in an ever increasingly competitive market place whether it’s to get the job in the first place or jump ahead for the promotion.

Just as a fashionable suit or tailored dress can make the difference in superiority of your looks, a healthy looking tanned skinned body tells the world you are vibrant, in top form and look like success.

Image Sun Tanning Centers have been providing an oasis of indoor tanning beds that cater to the person who understands to look your best, will make you do your best. At Image Sun you can find a wide variety of equipment to give you a beautiful and friendly tanning experience. Set in a clean, up-scale atmosphere, the Image Sun Tanning Center locations bring the best part of the sun right where you want it; in a comfortable and sand-free salon that pampers your body the way it should be.

The tanning industry has never been better as the need for convenient and clean tanning beds and centers have grown each year. Even in tough economic times people still need to look and feel good about themselves and nothing says inner peace like an outer glow.

Taking a look at the numbers it’s easy to see why owning an Image Sun Tanning Center franchise make good business sense. Let’s start with the market itself.

Over the last decade the tanning salon business has risen in both locations and revenues. The industry has jumped to over $7 billion dollars and is one of the biggest growth industries in the United States. Recent projections for small businesses have shown that the tanning bed businesses are going to continue to streak upwards hitting over 50% of increased production by the end of the century. Tanning bed salon businesses are just one of the many small businesses in this country that are the hallmark of the American Dream and represent 40% of all retail sales accounted for in the consumer market.

Owning a business, whether it’s an original concept store or franchise can be a daunting task. The people at Image Sun Tanning Centers have perfected the art of the franchise by creating a system that incorporates all the ingredients to make a successful business. From site selection to operational procedures, Image Sun knows what it takes to build a business and keep it successful.

The vision of tanning bed salon franchise ownership can be a reality but there are numerous things to consider. This is why Image Sun takes each perspective owner through an entire course to understand and become educated in the areas of location evaluation, construction principles, lease negotiations as well as getting into the details of the day to day operations.

Proper planning makes for perfect execution. Every small business that has failed has done so more because of a lack of pre-meditated business forecasting. Image Sun Tanning Centers have taken the guess work and inexperience out of the equation of owning and operating your very own tanning bed salon.

Every Image Sun Tanning Center salon is more than just a small business; it becomes part of the community and just as important, part of the Image Sun Tanning Center family.

For more information about owning and operating your very own Image Sun Tanning Center business click on their web site at www.imagesun.com or contact them direct at 888-LOOK-GR8.

“If you are not interested in using a tanning lotion in order to give yourself a sunless tan, you are left with two basic options: getting a tan at a tanning bed or getting a natural sun tan. The question is, however, which one of these methods will give you better tanning results?

Breaking Down the Rays

The reality is that there are no definite answers to this question. Both natural sun rays and tanning bed rays are made of UVB rays and UVA rays. Therefore, the science between both methods is the same. This means that, on the surface, both methods can give you the same results. On the other hand, the ratio of UVA and UVB rays in tanning beds is different from that found in the sun. As a result, the radiation levels of the rays in tanning beds are more intense than that found in the sun. In fact, studies have found that the UVA radiation in tanning beds is anywhere from three to eight times greater than natural light. These rays penetrate deeper into the skin. Therefore, in theory, the tanning bed should provide you with a deeper tan in a shorter period of time.

Building Your Tan

In order to get a deep and long lasting tan, it is best to gradually spend time in the sun and to let your tan build. If you live in an area of the country that experiences four distinct seasons, you know that spending time in the sun is not possible throughout the year. This means it can be difficult to gradually build a tan when you go the natural route. For this reason, some tanners prefer to use a combination of tanning beds and natural tanning. In this case, it is common to get started in the tanning process in the winter or the spring and then to take the tanning outdoors when the weather is fitting.

Staying Tan Year Round

It really doesn’t matter how great of a tan you can get with the natural sun if you live in an area with four distinct seasons. Even if your tan looks great, it will fade away throughout the fall and summer if you do not find a way to maintain it. For this reason, having access to a tanning bed can definitely be a plus because you can tan throughout the year. In this way, you can have a year round tan and your skin will be far better prepared for tanning when the summer sun hits. “

At last, you are now able to enjoy a really deep, dark and appealing tan with the able help of natural ingredients. These ingredients that are included in all Fiesta Sun tanning lotions are chosen specifically for the reason that they really work fast when it comes to giving a person a beautiful and youthful tan. You may also choose from amongst those tingle free tan bronzers and all those others which will make your skin really appear burnt.

Every time that you are using Fiesta Sun Tanning Lotions for a truly dark tan, you should be very prepared to be drawn into many heavenly and appealing fragrances which will suddenly sweep you with surprise. The products range from citrus to different raspberry varieties, from vanilla to creamy chocolate and even spicy chilly pepper. Therefore you don’t need to worry any more about anything unpleasant with the tan odor.

In case what you want is a really spectacular tan that appears as though you have come from a beach outing, then the right choice is just Fiesta Sun Lotion. It has special ingredients that will soak up many bits of the daily sun and therefore drastically lead to a reduction of the time needed to sunbathe.

Many online stores stock most if not all of the world’s famous brands that make the suntan experience a really nice one. Indoor tanning products come with a healthy discount. Some popular tanning lotions come with names such as Super Drench and Body Drench.

A healthy skin remains the foundation of every successful natural tan and every indoor tanner will allow you to get the ideal tan without all the harmful and ugly drying effects characteristic of the sun. A skin which is moist or non-flaky holds tans for a longer time. You can use various tanning products including sunless tanning lotions and different self tanning oils, creams and lotions. You may also use tanning sprays in order to get that ideal instant cruise tan.

There are some tanning lotions which many people consider to be tan accelerators. They contain many ideal ingredients whose work is to enhance the desirable effects of the amino acid tyrosine. There are still others which are considered by many as moisturizers and which will help your tender skin quickly recover after many tanning sessions have been finalized successfully.

Regardless of the product that you have chosen, you are bound to find a great selection very interesting to explore. The cheap tanning lotions that are available will stir your emotions. Your favorite tanning salon can easily provide a wide array of choices from which you can carefully make the right decision for your skin care. A home tanning bed lotions is best purchased from the manufacturer of that particular tanning bed.

When it comes to getting a sun tan, you can choose from between getting a natural sun tan by spending time outdoors or you can get a tan by visiting a tanning bed. Both methods can provide you with the same quality of tan, though a tanning bed is convenient because you can tan throughout the year. Nonetheless, is a tanning bed the safest option when it comes to tanning, or is there no real difference in safety when comparing tanning beds to natural sun tanning?

The Benefits of the Sun

Both natural sun rays and tanning bad rays contain UVA and UVB rays, which are potentially damaging to your skin. In fact, studies have shown over and over again that exposure to ultraviolet rays can lead to skin cancer and premature aging of the skin. One benefit the sun has, however, is the fact that it helps the skin produce melanin. This special pigment actually helps your skin naturally resist the damages associated with UV rays. Natural sunlight also helps to stimulate your body’s production of vitamin D, which helps keep your skeleton strong, boosts your immune system, and promotes the absorption of nutrients.

The Risks of Cancer

Whether you tan with natural sun or with the help of a tanning bed, regularly exposing your skin to these rays can be damaging to your skin if you do not follow the proper precautions. Many studies have shown, however, that the rays in tanning beds may be more harmful when it comes to increasing cancer risks.

UVA radiation is the primary form of radiation utilized in tanning beds, and some scientists believe there is a strong association between these rays and the development of malignant melanoma. Some studies have shown that women who visit a tanning bed at least one time each month are 55% more likely to develop melanoma than those women that do not obtain artificial tans. Studies also showed that people who used sun lamps to help them with tanning while in their 20s increase their risk of cancer by 150% when compared to women that did not use tanning beds.

Gaining Control of the Tanning Process

One benefit of tanning indoors is the fact that you can better control the amount of exposure you receive. The FDA requires tanning beds to automatically shut off at a predetermined time. Therefore, if you tan with a tanning bed, you have greater control over how long you tan and the intensity of the tan. This makes it far less likely that you will get burned during the tanning process.

Folks can’t live without fashion now a days. Anything that corresponds to the ongoing fashion style and trend happens to be most sought after. That’s why the current fashion fever of tanning is high in demand. In America and elsewhere tanning has established itself as a permanent industry. This unending fashion statement has paved the way for numerous alternatives to sun tan. For example, tanning lotions, tanning pills and tanning beds have come up as various tanning equipments. And one highly quick way of acquiring tan is spray tanning.

A good number of spray tanning booths are spread all over America. They offer you tan color at reasonable price. And above all, spray tanning is found to be safer than all other alternatives to sun tan. In fact dermatologists prefer recommending spray tanning over tanning beds.

Lotions used in these spray tanning booths are usually made up of SPF formula and hardly gives way to any side effect on skin. You can check a tanning booth for care and precaution that it takes while offering spray tanning before undergoing the process. Once you get comfortable with spray tan you can regularly visit the booth for keeping a tan color. Usually spray tan lasts for around six to eight days.

Post spray tanning, you need to use some moisturizer on your skin. A good moisturizer helps you sustain the tan color and makes your skin glow, just like sun tan.

Some of the booths use bronzer while the others prefer DHT after the lotion is sprinkled on the body. Bronzer results in immediate glowing skin while DHT takes some hours to give a look of sun tan. However dihydroxyacetone is a preferred tanner by most of the spas and tanning salons.

Before going for this tanning procedure you must consult dermatologist to ascertain nature of your skin as people with certain types of skin are not recommended for spray on tan. For examples folks with dry skin are not recommended to visit spray tanning booths.

You can seek spray on tan in even twenty five dollars. Usually the cost of getting this artificial tan color ranges between twenty five to one twenty five dollars.

You should refrain yourself from taking shower before you go to spray tanning booth and post tanning you should keep a check over your mobility for a few while.

Lastly, don’t forget examining your skin for any side effect or reaction after tanning and if you find so, immediately visit your dermatologist.