Salon de Sol Tanning Boutique - Tanning Q & A - Located at Lake Monticello in Palmyra, Virginia

Q. Can anybody tan? What's your Skin Type?
Knowing your skin type is critical when tanning indoors or out. When you're tanning inside, outside or choosing a sunscreen (SPF) knowing your skin type allows you to make educated decisions about lengths of sun exposure and sunscreen. Use the table below to determine your skin type. Caucasians make up type 1 through 4 with types 5 and 6 being very brown skin or black.
Certain skin types cannot tan, but anybody can get a beautiful golden-tan look with our UV-Free tanning system process. Our tanning professionals can help you determine the type of tanning best suited to your skin type. The six basic skin types are shown below:

*What Are Skin Types* "Skin Typing" is a method for determining one's natural ability to produce melanin. Skin types are hereditary and cannot be altered by outside influences. Skin types range from a Skin Type I (albino) to Skin Type VI (African American). Skin types are classified according to a person's tendencies to sunburn and/ or tan. Most indoor tanners are a skin type II, III or IV. These people tend to burn upon exposure to varying dosages of UV light, but also have the ability to develop some pigmentation. While all of us, regardless of skin type, have about the same number of melanocytes in our skin, we vary in our ability to produce melanin. It is this production capability which results in a certain skin type.
Type	Skin Reactions to Solar Radiation	Examples
I	Always burns easily and severely (painful burn); tans little or none and peels	People most often with fair skin, blue eyes, freckles; unexposed skin is white
II	Usually burns easily and severely (painful burn); tans minimally or lightly, also peels	People most often with fair skin, red or blonde hair, blue, hazel or even brown eyes; unexposed skin is white
III	Burns moderately and tans about average	Normal average Caucasian; unexposed skin is white
IV	Burns minimally, tans easily and above average with each exposure; exhibits IPD (immediate pigment darkening) reaction	People with white or light brown skin, dark brown hair, dark eyes (e.g., Mediterraneans, Orientals, Hispanics, etc.); unexposed skin is white or light brown
V	Rarely burns, tans easily and substantially; always exhibits IPD reaction	Brown-skinned persons (e.g., Amerindians, East Indians, Hispanics, etc); unexposed skin is brown
VI	Never burns and tans profusely; exhibits IPD reaction	Blacks (e.g., African and American blacks, Australian and South Indian Aborigines); unexposed skin is black

Q. What should I wear in the tanning bed?
What ever you want! Since each tanning bed is in a private room, you can wear (or not wear) whatever you are most comfortable in.
Once you enter your private tanning room it’s your choice. Some people wear their under garments, others bring swim suits, and many prefer to tan in the buff. (So they say) REMEMBER if you choose to tan without undergarments, those areas of skin normally covered will be more sensitive to the sun. Don't allow those areas to get full exposure when you start building your tan.

Q. Do I have to wear eye protection?
Yes, it is required by law in most states because eyelids are not thick enough to protect your eyes from UV damage. Salon de Sol provides FDA-approved eyewear at no charge in each tanning room. Sunlight can damage your eyes producing SEVERE BURNING and possible long term damage. So wear the goggles! If you are worried about the “raccoon eye” effect, use a small amount of self tanner to blend your tan.

Q. Why are lotions necessary?
Tanning without a lotion will deplete your skin of its much needed moisture. Lotions can help stimulate the production of melanin so that your skin tans more quickly, gets darker and keeps its tan longer. Plus, our lotions have moisturizers that keep your skin soft and healthy. Our premium lotions deliver vitamins, moisturizers, oils, and other ingredients to revitalize the skin and encourage melanin production, which gives you a tan appearance.

Q. Why is moisturized skin important for a tan?
Healthy, moist skin will tan quicker, get darker and keep its tanned appearance longer because the melanin is produced rapidly and the skin also will not exfoliate as quickly when it is properly moisturized.

Q. I don't tan outdoors. Will I be able to tan in a bed?
If you can't get color from the sun, you can't get color in an UV bed. However, UV-Free tanning system can give you a natural looking tan without any UV exposure at all.

Q. Do I need an appointment to tan?
In most cases NO. But, if your on a schedule, its best to call ahead and schedule your time and the bed your prefer.

Q. Do I have to sign a contract?
We offer individual sessions, multi-session packages, unlimited monthly, 3 month and 6 month packages. Ask your Salon de Sol consultant how to best create a package for your needs or see our pricing schedule on our website.

Q. I'm pregnant. Is it safe for me to tan?
Medical professionals do not know the affects of heat on the unborn child. We recommend you take advantage of our UV-Free Tanning System. If you become pregnant during a period that you have a membership package we will temporarily suspend your membership until you are ready to resume tanning.

Q. How do I know the beds are clean?
We use FDA-approved Hospital Grade cleaning solutions after every customer's tanning session. The store manager will be happy to show you our cleaning logs. The solution is tested daily to ensure proper sanitizing properties exist.

Q. How often do you change the bulbs in each bed?
We follow the manufacturer's guidelines for bulb replacement so that you will achieve the best results from your sessions. We typically change our bulbs when they have reached 80% of their capacity so your tan doesn't suffer from weaker UV rays.

Q. What if I'm not satisfied with the results of my tanning sessions?
We're sure you will be delighted with the results of your session however, during the first thirty days of your membership if you are not completely satisfied we will refund all of your money less the cost of actual tanning sessions used.

Q. How long does it take to develop a tan?
Tanning is not a one-schedule-fits-all process. Different people have different tanning abilities. Some tan faster and darker while others need to go slower to reduce the risk of sunburn. As with people, some equipment works faster and is better suited for certain skin types. On your first visit our staff will have you fill out a short questionaire and ask a few questions so we can help you choose a program that fits your time frame and budget.

To give you a general idea: The average person can develop a base tan in 8 -12 sessions using our budget beds. On your first visit we will determine a schedule for you to follow, usually starting off with just a few minutes your first session and gradually working up to a full 20 minute session. It is very important not to overexpose your skin to the sun! Plan on 25 - 30 days to build a tan this way. Using our Solaris 336 in combination with our other equipment, many people can build a nice brown base in as little as 10-12 days.

It is important to note that if you can not get a natural tan outdoors, it is very unlikely that you will be able to indoors using tanning equipment.

How often should I tan?
You should wait a very minimum of 24 hours before your next session. We recommend you follow a 3 tan per week schedule when building your base tan. After you have developed your base, you can reduce you schedule to once or twice a week depending on the tan you desire and the equipment your using. Using our premium or ultimate class equipment will greatly reduce the number of sessions per month necessary to keep good color.

Do tanning accelerators / intensifiers really work?
Lotions created for Indoor Tanning help you tan faster, replace and maintain moisture. Many help reduce and combat the signs of aging (e.g. appearance of fine line and wrinkles.) By supplying your skin with needed vitamins, minerals, amino acids and moisture these lotions can help you tan better than using no lotion at all. By using lotions you can get in fewer sessions with less UV exposure while taking care of your skin = smarter tanning!
Do I have to wear those goggles?

How does Ultraviolet light, indoor or outdoor "tan" the skin?
When the skin is exposed to natural or manufactured ultraviolet light, it stimulates production of a pigment found in the body called melanin. When melanin is triggered, it rises to the epidermal layer of the skin, allowing the tanning process to begin. However, large amounts of amino acids, which are components of melanin, are not stored by our bodies, which means that it can take days after exposure to ultraviolet light to develop a tan.

Research from lotion and skincare manufacturers indicate that the use of products formulated specifically for indoor tanning actually can enhance and stimulate the body’s natural tanning process. There are two basic steps that one can follow in developing an indoor or outdoor tan. Pre-tan solutions are applied before exposure to ultraviolet light. These formulas include vitamins, botanicals and essential oils to nourish the skin and prepare it for the tanning process. The old rule of thumb—healthy skin tans the best—is key. A pre-tan solution lays the foundation for building a rich, healthy tan, and manufacturers of tanning products believe a properly cultivated tan can be the body’s most effective sunscreen against the harmful effects of UV rays on the skin.

Amplifiers are products that moisturize the skin while tanning and allow ultraviolet light to penetrate the skin. Normally, some ultraviolet rays bounce off our bodies. Amplifiers reduce the skin’s capacity for reflection, so more rays can penetrate.

Using post-tanning solutions is another vital step one may follow in a tanning regimen. They serve basically one purpose—to moisturize and replenish the skin that has been dried during the tanning process. This minimizes both peeling and flaking, and keeps the skin moist and healthy.

Other helpful advice:
When tanning indoor or out, moisture is lost from the skin. Use a good daily moisturizer after tanning, showers or exercise to keep a health glowing skin tone. Choose a good quality lotion when tanning. Exposure to UVA can cause premature skin aging and wrinkling. A high quality tanning lotion can help prevent and reduce these effects. It’s well worth the money! Remember, like most fun things in life, moderation is the key. Talk with your salon owner about tanning, take care of your skin, and take a break every now and then.

Cancer Facts and Figures: Setting the record straight.

Statement: Melanoma cases are increasing at an epidemic rate of 4% a year.
SAE: Perhaps and not surprising. More people are going to dermatologists than ever before; perhaps a positive result of the public awareness created by the American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, the Skin Cancer Foundation and others -- and maybe even a little common sense.

Statement: In the U.S. there are more new cases of melanoma each year than there are of AIDS. There were 54,000 new cases of melanoma in the U.S. in 2002.
SAE: Actually, The Center of Disease Control (CDC) reports 850,000 to 950,000 cases of HIV and 43,000 cases of AIDS in 2003. According to the National Cancer Institute, there were 31,500 cases of melanoma in 2002.

Statement: "Melanoma is the most common cancer in the U.S. "
SAE: Actually the 8th most common and here are the numbers
Male Genital: 138,000
Breast-Female: 131,000
Respiratory: 114,000
Colon & Rectum: 92,000
Urinary System: 57,000
Female Genital : 49,000
Lymphoma: 39,000
Melanoma: 31,000
and in fact, Lung, Colorectal, Breast and Prostate make up over 50% of all cancers.

Statement: ..."In women 25-29, melanoma is the primary cause of cancer death, and in women 30-34 it is the second most common cause of cancer death."
SAE: The fact is for women, breast cancer more than 131,000 lives this year. Melanoma fatality rates have actually dropped in both males and females according to the National Cancer Institute and the SEER report View the statistics at
http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2002/sections.html

Source: http://www.suntanningedu.com

Sunlight is absolutely essential to all life on earth. There are various reasons, both biological and psychological, why exposure to light is desirable. In addition, many people believe they look better with a tan. Thus, having a tan may provide a psychological uplift for some.

Normally, a person tans indoors only as well as he/ she is able to tan outdoors. Yet, those fair-skinned people who generally cannot tolerate the uncontrollable rays of the sun often achieve some color when tanning indoors. This can be attributed to a different spectral output as well as carefully timed tanning sessions in a controlled tanning environment. Skin type, heredity, and individual photosensitivities determine who will have success tanning indoors.

All exposure, whether indoor or outdoors should be gradual and moderate. For the commercial tanning salon operator, it is necessary that each customer's skin type be determined, and that the corresponding recommended exposure schedule be strictly followed. More information on the risks and benefits of UV exposure can be obtained from industry publications, seminars, trade associations, and suppliers of indoor tanning equipment.

As for how often to tan, currently, the Food and Drug Administration guidelines suggest that a 48 hour time interval should pass between tanning sessions. Pigmentation and/ or erythemal (sunburn) may not be fully visible for between 12- 24 hours. Thus two tanning sessions within this 24 hour period could cause an unintentional burn. In general, maximum pigmentation can be built up gradually, following the exposure schedule, in 8 - 10 tanning sessions.

Should an indoor tanner experience an adverse reaction after tanning, one should terminate all exposure until the condition disappears. Only then should one begin tanning again. If the condition does not disappear within a reasonable amount of time, one should consult a physician.

Each indoor tanner must bear responsibility for his/ her own tanning priorities. It is the responsibility of those in the retail business to provide enough information to customers to enable them to make an informed decision. When in doubt, the equipment operator should exercise prudence, caution and good judgment when giving advice on tanning practices.