The Tanning Process
Your skin responds to sun exposure by stimulating the production of melanin and then darkening that melanin. This darkening of melanin is what we call tanning, and it is the body's natural protection against sunburn.
To call a tan damage to your skin is like calling exercise damage to your muscles. Exercise naturally tears tiny muscle fibers in your body, but this tearing is your body's natural way of building stronger muscle tissue. In the same way, developing a tan is your body's natural way to protect against the dangers of sunburn and overexposure. Your body is designed to repair any damage to the skin just as it is designed to repair any tears in muscle fiber. Just be sure to practice moderation - overexposure, just like over-exercising, can have detrimental effects and should be avoided.
WHEN BUILDING UP A BASE TAN, you should tan every 24-48 hours. It is important that you start out tanning slowly, so you do not burn - gradual exposure via shorter initial sessions (i.e. not overdoing it) allows for a more lasting and protective tan. Work up to maximum levels carefully. If there is discomfort following your session, do not add minutes to your next session - stay at the same level or even decrease your minutes. And if more than 48 hours passes between session, use caution as any tolerance you may have been building up may have been lost. Unless the skin is already tan, it takes up to 72 hours for the melanin to darken and move to the surface of the skin. Therefore, when you first begin tanning, you may not see the results of the first sessions for 2-3 days
Once you have a base tan, it is best to allow at least 48 hours between sessions to give your skin enough time to react to the UV exposure and maximize the melanin production. Overexposure can actually cause your skin to fight the tanning process. You will get some skin darkening immediately following your session, but it will still take a few days for the full benefits to be seen. After achieving your desired darkness, all it takes is one session every 4 to 7 days to maintain your tan.
Maximum tanning times are set by the FDA based on how fast the tanning unit actually tans the skin. Due to the latest in tanning technology, all tanning equipment featured at Tropics Tanning is highly effective and efficient, and requires less time to achieve better results than the older or less advanced equipment you may find elsewhere.