California Love
Master Don Juan
Hey DJs. I compiled some information regarding the mechanisms behind tanning. It is pretty thorough, but I simplified down a few aspects to keep it readable.
Section 1 - Ultraviolet Rays
-The sun emits 3 forms of ultraviolet radiation - UVA, UVB, UVC.
-UVC is highly dangerous and does not penetrate the ozone layer.
UVB is the culprit behind a painful sunburn. UVB rays are used in trace amounts in indoor tanning beds.
UVA is used in indoor tanning beds. Chances of burning are a hundred times less than with UVB rays. UVA rays are considered safer and less carcinogenic (cancer-causing) as well.
-Outdoors, you are susceptible to both UVB and UVA rays. The amounts vary depending upon your place of residence.
Section 2 - Skin mechanisms
UV rays penetrate the epidermis to stimulate little melanocyte cells. These buddies are your friends because they produce melanin, the pigment that gives you a tan. Depending on your ethinicity, the body will naturally make a certain amount of melanin, regardless of how much UV exposure you get. Hence we have blacks, latinos, whites, asians, all with different skin tones.
Now, your buddies the melanocytes are hard workers, but too much stress from UV radiation causes them to mutate, hence the skin cancer melanoma. Certain ethinicities are more prone to this kind of skin cancer.
Our melanocytes produce two kinds of pigment - eumalanin/brown and phaeomelanin/yellow+red. The darker races have more eumalanin. When we think of a bronze tan, this is the pigment we are aiming to achieve more of.
UVB rays are more effective at increasing melanocyte productivity. Also, they help your melanin-saturated cells rise to the upper layers of the epidermis. This results in a thick, full, and dark looking skin.
Now, a quick reality check!
Have you ever noticed that your skin color is different under various lighting? Have you noticed this on your family, friends, community members as well? We all vary because we all have different skin thickness. There's a genetic factor plus a tanning factor. Ideally, you want a thicker layer so that the skin looks tan under all settings.
Section 3 - Tanning Beds
We wanna know more about UVA rays since indoor tanning beds utilize these. UVA rays are more penetrating and have a lesser chance at causing sunburn. They are also less carcinogenic (cancer-causing). We use these because the result occurs extremely quickly. UVA rays oxidize what melanin your skin has ALREADY produced and turns it a browner shade.
Indoor tanning pros-
-controlled doses of UVA and UVB rays
-controlled time
-privacy and ability to tan all areas of the body
-ability to tan when the weather outside sucks
Indoor tanning cons-
-can be expensive in some areas
-can only achieve so much because of the limited UVB exposure
-is still potentially harmful
When going to facilities, be sure to watch out for pricing. Use the cheapest beds (should be around 2-6 dollars for a session). Start at around 8-10 minutes and work up to the full 20 over the course of a few weeks. Do not use any of their fancing "tinglers" and tanning lotions. Just be sure to keep your skin well moisturized before you go in. The cornea is suceptible to damage so you may want goggles or little stickers to cover your eyes. There IS a moderate chance of getting a goofy-looking tan line.
In the end, outdoor tanning is still necessary if you want to further your skin tone. Some people are simply less prone to tanning and may not achieve a bronze color easily. Caucasians and light-skinned asians are more prone to melanoma(skin cancer) because the melanocytes are not as efficient and their skin is less protected.
If you want to catch up on some further reading, here are some excellent sources to start with-
http://www.enjoyatan.com/tanning/uv.php
http://science.howstuffworks.com/sunscreen.htm
http://www.teamsolareclipse.org/uvrays.html
yours truly,
California Love
Section 1 - Ultraviolet Rays
-The sun emits 3 forms of ultraviolet radiation - UVA, UVB, UVC.
-UVC is highly dangerous and does not penetrate the ozone layer.
UVB is the culprit behind a painful sunburn. UVB rays are used in trace amounts in indoor tanning beds.
UVA is used in indoor tanning beds. Chances of burning are a hundred times less than with UVB rays. UVA rays are considered safer and less carcinogenic (cancer-causing) as well.
-Outdoors, you are susceptible to both UVB and UVA rays. The amounts vary depending upon your place of residence.
Section 2 - Skin mechanisms
UV rays penetrate the epidermis to stimulate little melanocyte cells. These buddies are your friends because they produce melanin, the pigment that gives you a tan. Depending on your ethinicity, the body will naturally make a certain amount of melanin, regardless of how much UV exposure you get. Hence we have blacks, latinos, whites, asians, all with different skin tones.
Now, your buddies the melanocytes are hard workers, but too much stress from UV radiation causes them to mutate, hence the skin cancer melanoma. Certain ethinicities are more prone to this kind of skin cancer.
Our melanocytes produce two kinds of pigment - eumalanin/brown and phaeomelanin/yellow+red. The darker races have more eumalanin. When we think of a bronze tan, this is the pigment we are aiming to achieve more of.
UVB rays are more effective at increasing melanocyte productivity. Also, they help your melanin-saturated cells rise to the upper layers of the epidermis. This results in a thick, full, and dark looking skin.
Now, a quick reality check!
Have you ever noticed that your skin color is different under various lighting? Have you noticed this on your family, friends, community members as well? We all vary because we all have different skin thickness. There's a genetic factor plus a tanning factor. Ideally, you want a thicker layer so that the skin looks tan under all settings.
Section 3 - Tanning Beds
We wanna know more about UVA rays since indoor tanning beds utilize these. UVA rays are more penetrating and have a lesser chance at causing sunburn. They are also less carcinogenic (cancer-causing). We use these because the result occurs extremely quickly. UVA rays oxidize what melanin your skin has ALREADY produced and turns it a browner shade.
Indoor tanning pros-
-controlled doses of UVA and UVB rays
-controlled time
-privacy and ability to tan all areas of the body
-ability to tan when the weather outside sucks
Indoor tanning cons-
-can be expensive in some areas
-can only achieve so much because of the limited UVB exposure
-is still potentially harmful
When going to facilities, be sure to watch out for pricing. Use the cheapest beds (should be around 2-6 dollars for a session). Start at around 8-10 minutes and work up to the full 20 over the course of a few weeks. Do not use any of their fancing "tinglers" and tanning lotions. Just be sure to keep your skin well moisturized before you go in. The cornea is suceptible to damage so you may want goggles or little stickers to cover your eyes. There IS a moderate chance of getting a goofy-looking tan line.
In the end, outdoor tanning is still necessary if you want to further your skin tone. Some people are simply less prone to tanning and may not achieve a bronze color easily. Caucasians and light-skinned asians are more prone to melanoma(skin cancer) because the melanocytes are not as efficient and their skin is less protected.
If you want to catch up on some further reading, here are some excellent sources to start with-
http://www.enjoyatan.com/tanning/uv.php
http://science.howstuffworks.com/sunscreen.htm
http://www.teamsolareclipse.org/uvrays.html
yours truly,
California Love
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