Learn your skin type Before sunbathing or sunbedding, learn your "skin type". By knowing your skin type, you and your Tanning Salon professional can determine the best tanning schedule for you. There are six distinct skin types. Click here to learn more about each of the six skin types, and the characteristics of each.

 

Protect yourself outdoors When recreating outdoors, wear appropriate full-spectrum sunscreens-even if you already have a tan. Remember, you can still tan while wearing sunblock, and you can still sunburn if you have a tan! You also should wear hats whenever possible while outdoors, particularly if you have a receding hairline or thinning hair. The top of the head is especially sensitive to sunburn. The shade a hat provides will also help reduce the amount of sunlight on your face and arms, also common sites of sunburn.

Avoid sunburn If you remember nothing else, remember this cardinal rule of tanning. Sunburn is the enemy associated with permanent skin damage. It occurs when tiny blood vessels in your skin burst from getting too much sun exposure. Whether tanning inside or outside, never burn yourself intentionally. Many people falsely assume that sunburns will eventually "fade" into tans. This is not so. Sunburn is an injury on top of your tanned skin. Tanning salon operators are trained to do everything in their power to help you tan moderately and minimize your risk of getting burned.

 

Here are some of the most important ways you can prevent UV overexposure and protect the health of your skin while tanning: Clean your skin completely before tanning. Some ingredients in makeup and perfume can make skin more susceptible to sunburn.   Moisturize your skin with lotions specifically developed for indoor tanning, preferably before and after your tanning session. Moisturizers prepare your skin for UV exposure, reducing the drying effects of tanning.

allow a minimum of 24 hours to pass before tanning again, indoors or outdoors. Industry and medical standards recommend waiting 48 to 72 hours, the span of time required for skin to repair minor damage and to create melanin and a tan.   When tanning nude, protect sensitive areas of the body that normally are not exposed to UV light. Skin on the underarms, backs of legs, buttocks, and genitalia can suffer severe sunburn from the same light intensity that only tans the rest of your body. Expose these areas gradually by covering them halfway through tanning sessions for the first three or four times you tan nude.   Protect your lips with a lip balm that blocks UV light; lips cannot produce melanin, leaving them at risk for overexposure.   If you are sunburned, soothe your skin with a moisturizer or aloe gel, and don't try to tan until the redness completely subsides.   Seek the advice of a medical professional whenever you have a health concern-such as rashes, itching, or any other skin problems or irregularities.

 

Need an UltraSun or GardaSun tanning bed to go with your lotion?  Check out www.ultimate-tan.com for the best deal in the continental US on UltraSun and GardaSun beds and parts.