Unfortunately, many people who love getting bronzed tend to neglect the necessary precautions when tanning. Sure, perfectly tanned skin is indeed quite gorgeous, but a sunburn isn’t. That is exactly what people who stay too long under the sun get. While the sun does provide certain health benefits, like the fact that it helps us get much-needed Vitamin D, overexposure to its ultraviolet rays sun could result in a very raw and painful sunburn. And if the American Academy of Dermatology is to be believed, sunburns could eventually lead to skin cancer.

This is why when going out in the sun, getting all the protection you need should become automatic. Using sunscreen is a no-brainer, although just as essential is the wearing of protective clothing when going out in the sun. Fortunately, there are companies these days that manufacture just that.

One such company is CabanaLife, which makes some great sun protective clothing. CabanaLife elaborates on the concept of spf clothing, and in a very fashionable way at that. Its collection, which includes hats, coverups and sundresses, gives the wearer very stylish options for having some fun under the sun. What’s more, it has a range of sun protective clothing for children as well, so your children, who do have a tendency to stay and play too long under the sun, can still be very much protected from the sun’s harsh UV rays.

Staying out in the sun need not be a dangerous or painful experience, as long as you take the necessary precautions, follow whatever sun protection tips you can find, and have the common sense to realize that too much of anything, the sun included, could never be a good thing.

But if you’ve got some ink done on your skin, you’ve got to realize that direct sunlight isn’t exactly a tattoo’s greatest friend. However brilliant and/or colorful your tattoo is, the ultraviolet rays of the sun can cause the color in your tattoo, or the tattoo itself, to fade. The rays can essentially squeeze the life out of it. The same goes for tanning beds, which can even be more damaging to tattoos than the sun considering that its UV rays are much more concentrated.

However, all the adverse effects of UV rays on tattoos do not mean you’ll have to kiss your tanning days goodbye. Getting bronzed and inked are two passions that could still be indulged in together, as long as some precautionary measures are taken.

The most obvious step is to use sun block if you really need to get some sun. And if you’re going to stay in the sun for a much longer period than usual, it is recommended that you use a sun block with the highest SPF, and re-apply it as often as needed, especially over your tattoo that is exposed to sunlight. Covering the tattooed area with a piece of cloth also helps preserve the vibrancy of your body art.

But if you got your tattoo just a couple of days before, follow all tattoo aftercare tips outlined by your tattoo artist and at least wait until your skin heals before making any efforts at tanning. That could take anywhere between two weeks to three months, when a tattoo is generally considered to be totally healed. As long as your new tattoo hasn’t finished peeling and has yet to grow its first protective layer of skin, don’t go exposing it to UV rays. Doing the opposite could only damage your tattoo, because no amount of sun block is going to be enough to protect it from UV rays, especially if its going to be exposed for long periods of time.

Just follow these simple tips and you’ll have that gorgeous sun-kissed look and wonderful body art at the same time.

Many doctors say ultraviolet light from the sun or a tanning machine is dangerous because of the risks associated with skin cancer. But some health experts, such as Dr. Michael Holick of Boston University, disagree.

“I believe that Americans have gone overboard with their fear of the sun. I think that sensible exposure to sunlight is really important for your overall health and well-being,” says Holick.

The reason for the concern is vitamin D, essential for bone strength and other health needs, which our skin makes through exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

We need 1,000 units of vitamin D a day, but a glass of milk supplies only 100 units and a multivitamin only 400. So most people need the sun in order to avoid deficiency.

Sunscreens and tanning lotions can reduce vitamin D production

Now, new research has found that wearing sunscreen continuously can reduce the amount of vitamin D a person is able to make.

“We looked at individuals that always wore a sunscreen before they went outside. … And we found that, indeed at the end of the summer, they were deficient in vitamin D,” says Holick. “And so we have shown over and over again that adults, even if they’re on a multivitamin, and drinking milk, if they always wear sun protection, or avoid any direct sun exposure, they’re at high risk of developing vitamin D deficiency.”

Rooftop measurements of sunlight show that, for most people, getting enough sunlight exposure at this time of year is not easy, even for people who don’t regularly wear sunscreen. In the middle of the winter on a very sunny day in a city as far north as Boston, there’s not enough sunlight for people to get sufficient quantities of vitamin D.

The good news is that if you get enough sun during the rest of the year, it carries you through the winter, says Holick.

Or there are machines. In Holick’s lab he put young people in tanning machines and measured their bone density.

“Tanners had higher bone density on average than non-tanners,” says Holick.

Still, he cautions against the dangers of skin cancer and warns people not to go overboard. However, it is critical, he says, to realize the sun’s rays are not always our enemy.
© 2007 MSNBC Interactive

“It can be difficult trying to figure out which tanning lotion is right for you. Believe it or not; that’s a good thing! There are so many different tanning lotions on the market these days that there is something which is right for everyone, no matter what your skin tone or tanning habits. You just need to learn a few things about tanning lotion to know which of these many tanning lotion products might be the right one for you. Once you understand that there are different kinds of tanning lotions, you’ll be able to find the one that will give you the desired effects you are seeking to obtain.

The first thing to determine is why you are primarily seeking to use a tanning lotion. There are many different reasons that one might use a tanning lotion and chances are that you are looking for some combination of these reasons. Reasons that are common include a desire for faster tanning, an interest in continuing to tan after you have left the sun or salon and the use of safer tanning practices to protect your skin from damage by tanning. Figure out which of these is most important to you and you’ll be well on your way to choosing the right tanning lotion. For example, if you wish to use a tanning lotion primarily to continue tanning after you are no longer in the rays, you will want to use a tan extender lotion.

Some people are looking for a tanning lotion that will allow them to get that beautiful darkened tan without requiring them to go to the tanning salon at all. If this is the case, you are probably more interested in a sunless tanning lotion than in any of the other products that are on the market. In contrast, some people are seeking tanning lotion that will allow their tanning beds to give them the most even tan in the shortest amount of time. These people should choose a tanning lotion which matches the type of tanning bed that is being used. You should consult a professional who is working at the tanning salon to find out which tanning beds you are using and which products are recommended for use with those beds.

You will also need to take into account your own personal bodily characteristics. Most importantly, you will want to consider your skin tone. People need different types of tanning lotion based on the color of their skin and the likelihood of a burn. You will also want to consider your own preferences. In addition to standard tanning lotions, there are creams, gels and oils which can be used for tanning. You may have a preference between these depending on the dryness or oiliness of your skin. You may also find that you prefer certain brand names over others, something that you’ll know only be trying them out and seeing what you like.

Don’t forget that you need to look carefully at your products to make sure that you are using them correctly. Outdoor tanning lotions should only be used with natural sun whereas indoor tanning lotion should be used at salons. Once you have chosen your tanning lotion, read the instructions carefully and make sure to follow them closely. If you have any questions at all, consult a doctor or someone working at your tanning salon to make sure that your tanning lotion is helping you in just the right ways. “

Going to the tanning salon can be a lot of fun for both men and women. Many will view that a tan is a great way to look as though the skin has been kissed by the sun, and in just a matter of minutes. For those that are looking to enhance their current tans, they can do so at a tanning salon. Receiving a tan is a great way to darken up the skin, as well as even out skin tones that may vary all over the body.

Although going to a tanning salon can be a lot of fun, it is also important to take as much precaution when tanning as possible. This means that there should be tanning lotion that is placed in areas that protection is wanted, preferably all over the body. This is beneficial, as the tanning lotion will help to enhance the tanning experience. With so many tanning lotions that are popular on the market today, it comes as no surprise to many that there are tanning lotions on the market that are highly competitive against one another. One tanning lotion that is known to bring such beautiful and positive results time and again when tanning is the Paradigm tanning lotion.

The Paradigm tanning lotion is known to enhance the overall color of the tan. The uniqueness of the tanning lotion is that it will bring about the beauty of the tan, enhancing the glow of the skin even more. Paradigm is also known to have ingredients that intensify the tanning experience, as well as replenishing the skin with nutrients that it needs, creating a softer, healthier glow.

The prices of the Paradigm tanning lotion are also appealing to many that are looking for the lotion on the market. This is because the lotion is known to run around $70 a bottle, which is very affordable to other tanning lotions that are on the market. The retail price of this tanning lotion has been known to go for $160. Searching online will often be the most beneficial for locating a bottle of the Paradigm lotion, as it will typically be cheaper, and many of the other tanning lotion companies will want to have the competitive prices against such a fine product. As much, the tanning lotion can go a long way, which makes for an even better and affordable investment for all. It is also stated that the Paradigm tanning lotion is known to tingle, which is a wonderful sensation when applied all over the body, or in small amounts and in sections here and there. This often makes for a great means of tanning, all the while playing it quite safe for tanners.

Paradigm has truly made a name for itself in the tanning industry, and is sure to make even more waves in the future. The tanning lotion is sure to be a success on the market, as it has already made a wonderful name in many tanning salons that are featured all across the country. With Paradigm tanning lotion everyone can be just minutes away from a tanned body that radiated beauty.

Indoor tanning bed lotions have a unique blend of ingredients that are designed for salon use. They do not leave a greasy film and are meant to help you achieve that natural glow quickly and conveniently. These salon tanning lotions are marketed all over the internet and through wholesale retailers and specialty stores. You are able to choose the tint of bronze that you desire determined by your skin tone, and many of these products even provide a natural looking tan while blocking some UV rays.

Tanning lotions that are made for home or commercial indoor tanning are very convenient and easy to use. If the user follows the directions provided by the manufacturer, they act dually as a tanning aide and as a moisturizer to prevent your skin from becoming dehydrated during the indoor tanning process. This helps to improve the quality of the tan that you develop.

The convenience factor of indoor tanning lotions is increased because you are able to apply them to your skin only minutes before your begin your indoor tanning session, and they are still effective. These lotions have ingredients that are activated by the tanning beds, and you will know that they are working immediately after stepping out of the tanning bed because you will have that healthy, sun-kissed look. Outdoor tanning can lend to serious sun burns that may raise your risk of skin cancer; by following the directions for indoor tanning products you can diminish that risk and tan in a healthier way.

Indoor tanning lotions have come a long way since they were first developed for consumers. In the past they were heavy and left a slimy feeling on your skin long after you left the tanning salon. Now the consumer in the market for an indoor tanning lotion has access to lighter, more natural feeling lotions that also have a variety of accelerates and tints that you can custom choose based on your skin tone. They are available for pale, medium, dark, or already tanned skin tones. Indoor tanning salon lotions have come a long way! Choose only the best indoor tanning products to use at your local tanning salon for optimal, long-lasting results!

Ok so I get asked this a lot. Everyone has a different story. Does getting a tan help get rid of acne. I can only speak from experience and say yes it does. Growing up I always had bad acne and when the summer time would start to roll around I would get some color and my acne would clear up significantly. Even now as I’m older I still get acne break outs. Here is another thing I have noticed. My wife is a teacher, so we usually take vacation on her spring break. We are totally pale from the winter and we always do about 3-4 tanning salon sessions before we head off to our tropical destination. I have to say that my skin clears up very nicely after the tanning sessions. Now I believe this is all in moderation. In the long run if you have bad acne and are tanning all the time and getting a lot of sun exposure you could cause some acne scarring in the long run. Its like anything else. Moderation, moderation, moderation. Also you want to make sure the you use a tanning lotion that isn’t too oily. I figured I wold toss my 2 cents out there about tanning and acne. Hope this helps some people out.

Designer Skin tanning products are made specifically for those that prefer to tan with a tanning bed rather than outdoors. Although these products do not contain SPF protection and, therefore, are not good for use outdoors, Designer Skin products are far better than those you would find on supermarket or drugstore shelves.

The lotions you purchase over-the-counter do not offer the same types of ingredients you will find in Designer Skin products. The special ingredients help to maximize your tanning results while also helping you maintain a longer-lasting tan. In addition, Designer Skin lotions provide a level of moisture that over-the-counter products cannot provide to the skin.

Moisturizing the skin is particularly important to the tanning process, which is why it is better to use a product such as Designer Skin rather than using no lotion at all. With the help of Designer Lotion, you will tan more quickly, you will achieve a darker tan, and your tan will last longer.

Designer Skin offers a number of different products, including those with a tingling effect. Tingle Designer Skin lotions are generally recommended only for advanced tanners and, because they help increase the oxygenation and microcirculation in the skin, they help to produce deeper, darker tans.

The Designer Skin line includes a number of products, some of which offer the same benefits but provide different scents. Yet others offer different types of benefits to the skin, though all are created to help you achieve smoother, more radiant skin. In fact, many of the Designer Skin products include Phyto-age, Alpha Lipoic Acid, and Copper in order to provide anti-aging benefits.

Some of the more popular Designer Skin lotions for men include Worship, Hustle, Get Down Brown, and Bronze Camouflage. Although these products offer the same types of ingredients found in other Designer Skin lotions, they offer packaging and fragrances that are more appealing to men than some of the other products.

If you are looking to add a natural looking tint to your skin, Designer Skin’s Natural Bronzing products are a good choice. These products are able to boost your tan without the use of harmful DHA. Rather, a proprietary blend comprised of various extracts and exotic oils help these products create a very appealing tan. Since the Natural Bronzing products offered by Designer Skin do not contain DHA, you do not have to worry about developing the “orange” look that over-the-counter products can cause.

Designer Skin products also contain the unique Fade Defying Formula. With this special formula, your tan is protected from harmful environmental factors. As a result, you can maintain your base tan in order to create a deeper, richer tan. The Fade Defying Formula, which can be found in products such as Shine, Speed of Light, and Shine, also helps your tan last longer.

Some Massachusetts teenagers looking for an artificial tan would need parental permission and others would be prohibited from going to tanning salons if a new bill is passed.

The bill, which attributes high rates of skin cancer to ultraviolet rays, would prohibit children less than 16 years old from using tanning beds. The bill also would require parents of 16- and 17-year-olds to be present at tanning salons to give their approval, and it would obligate teens to read information, which salons must provide, on the health dangers of tanning. The bill would change a 1990 law that prohibits children under 14 from using tanning salon beds.

Sen. Pam Resor (D-Acton), one of the bill’s co-sponsors - the other is Sen. James Timilty (D-Wapole) - said at a State House press conference yesterday she proposed the bill to protect children from “dangerous salons,” adding state health officials have a better understanding of what is safe for children than children themselves.

“We are here because we have to file legislation to try to gain a perspective on who should make decisions in tanning,” Resor said.

Melanoma Foundation of New England Executive Director Deb Girard supports the bill and cited data on the health risks of tanning beds.

“A session in a tanning bed gives you the same amount of UV as being outside eight hours on a beach unprotected,” she said. “We know through research that people are 2.5 times more likely to get skin cancer from the UV lamps.”

Girard said her organization visits schools at every level to teach minors of these risks while combating the trendy image associated with artificial tanning.

“Kids feel that if you use tanning, you’re smarter, wealthier and prettier,” Girard said. “This tanning sensation goes [as far] back as Coco Chanel. Since then, we have a culture [that says] tan is beautiful.”

Despite Massachusetts’s location in the northeast, Girard noted the commonwealth has the 18th-highest rate of melanoma cases in the nation, a problem she attributed largely to UV damage from tanning salons.

Despite the arguments against artificial tanning, Girard said many people still doubt the health risks associated with the salons.

“Parents need more education [on tanning beds],” Girard said. “People still think you are safe in a tanning bed.”

Massachusetts Academy of Dermatology president Kathryn Bowers said the state has an obligation to citizens to pass the legislation.

“The other thing people don’t realize is that every single ray stays there,” she said, likening the practice of artificial tanning to the now-discredited use of radiation therapy to treat acne in the 1950s.

Francie Hauck, owner of Perfect Tan on Commonwealth Avenue, disputed the senators’ assertion that moderate tanning is harmful.

“Reasonable tanning is as safe as being in the sun,” Hauck said in a phone interview. “A tan is your natural protection for the skin. When people don’t tan [before sun exposure], they get fried.”

Hauck said she already requires written parental consent from minors, and because her store does not get many young customers, she doubts the bill’s passage would affect her business.

“I think we have five tanners who are high school age . . . and they have to prove they are with parents,” she said.

Though she did not recommend tanning more than once a day, Hauck noted that law already prohibits tanning more than once in a 24-hour period.

“There are some tanning salons that have unlimited tanning, but we don’t do that here,” she said.

Associated Press
Updated: 2:17 p.m. ET March 15, 2006

Harvin Greene still loves looking tan, but with a 3-year-old daughter, she doesn’t have much time anymore for sitting in the sun or keeping frequent appointments to use a tanning bed.

So every once in a while, the 31-year-old Atlanta homemaker dashes into a local salon and gets a spray-on tan that lasts about a week.

“It’s big, I don’t have to wait, and I get an immediate tan,” Greene said. “Everybody asks, ‘Did you just get back from vacation?’”

Greene’s Atlanta salon represents a new trend in indoor tanning. It is huge, brightly lit inside, and is owned by one of several companies that are trying to create major national chains in an industry that doesn’t have any.

Americans spend an estimated $5 billion a year on getting and staying tan, but the five biggest chains account for a minuscule 5 percent of the market, according to industry experts. There are an estimated 25,000 tanning establishments in the United States, but that includes health clubs and nail salons with a tanning bed or two in the back.

Unhappy customers say those outfits lock customers into costly long-term contracts, offer outdated equipment, minimal service and not enough beds to meet demand during the peak season, which runs from now into June.

Many of these new tanning tycoons come from the movie-rental business. They see similarities between their industry and video stores before Blockbuster Inc., which offered better selections at reasonable prices.

“The tanning business is dominated by independents, and many of them are single-store owners. They’re not in good locations. They still use handmade signs in the windows,” says Steven Berkman, a former Blockbuster executive who is now vice president of franchisi’g for Palm Beach Tan Inc. “There’s an opportunity here for a great retail brand, just like the video industry in the ’80s.”

MORE ON THIS STORY
A sampling of states’ indoor tanning regulations

Privately held Palm Beach Tan has been building stores — including the one in Atlanta that Greene visits — that are bigger than 3,000 square feet and contain 20 or more beds. Based near Dallas, it claims to be the largest chain by sales — about $50 million — because it owns half its 100 stores and makes more revenue than franchise-heavy chains that just get royalty payments from store operators.

Other large chains include Planet Beach Tan, based in Marrero, La., with 300 stores; Hollywood Tan of Mt. Laurel, N.J., with about 225; and L.A. Tan of Lincolnwood, Ill., with 140.

The average franchise requires an investment of about $250,000, but it’s about $350,000 at Planet Beach and closer to $600,000 at Palm Beach.

The chains are aggressively pursuing successful independent operators. Janie Robins of Harrisburg, Pa. and a partner already operated several video stores and four independent tanning salons when they opened a Palm Beach Tan last year. She said being a franchisee stretches her advertising budget because the company helps design and test promotions.

The chains also offer equipment that many independent salons lack, including newer, more powerful beds and spray-on tanning booths that don’t use ultraviolet radiation. They can do this partly by negotiating discounts with manufacturers of the beds, which cost $6,000 to $30,000 each.

Donald Zale, a former Blockbuster franchisee who runs nine Palm Beach stores in the Washington, D.C., area, said he is breaking with past practices that angered customers of other salons, especially forcing them to sign long-term contracts.

“There were some horror stories about those,” he said.

There is a good reason why the new chains are chasing customers of other salons: The tanning industry, for all its size, is essentially flat.

A majority of salons say foot traffic is down and sales have been flat to up just slightly recently, according to industry publication Looking Fit. Judie Bizzozero, the magazine’s editorial director, said customers have been forced to cut back to pay higher gasoline and utility bills.

John Overstreet, executive director of the Indoor Tanning Association, a trade group for salons and bed manufacturers, said the business is stable but not growing like it did in the 1990s. He and his members blame the stagnant market on warnings that exposure to UV radiation can lead to skin cancer.

The National Cancer Institute reports that users of tanning equipment are far more likely than nonusers to develop skin cancer, the fastest-growing form of cancer, with 1 million new cases diagnosed last year. The American Medical Association favors prohibiting anyone under 18 from using tanning equipment.

Regulations vary by state. Some prohibit children under 14 from using tanning beds, and a few, including Arizona, Illinois and Ohio, require parental permission for anyone under 18.

Industry officials have countered that doctors overstate the dangers of UV exposure, citing the work of Boston University researcher Dr. Michael F. Holick, who recommends up to 15 minutes in the sun without sunscreen several times a week to help the body produce vitamin D.

Ronald Moy, a dermatologist and surgeon at the University of California, Los Angeles, dismissed the need for more vitamin D and said the industry is undercutting doctors’ ability to counsel patients to protect themselves.

It is particularly hard to convince teens that tanning could lead to cancer many years later, Moy said.

“They nod their head and agree,” he said, “but they think the risk is small if they just go a few times.”

Clearly, tanning salon customers are willing to take their chances.

“My vanity overrides health concerns,” said Lana Morgan, a 45-year-old sales rep from Kings Park, N.Y., who visits a salon three or four times a week. “I’m in sales, and I have to look good.”

But the percentage of Americans using tanning beds has flat-lined, and most of the industry’s growth now comes from selling spray-on tans, said Steve Smith, chief executive of Planet Beach Tan.

Smith’s company, which franchises about 300 stores, is adding skin-hydrating machines and facials and recasting itself as “the tanning spa” — it’s even trying to trademark the term.

“We had a lot of negative press when it comes to UV tanning equipment,” he said. “This approach might be the missing link that takes us into the future.”