Tanning Facts

Click on the questions below to be taken to the answer. If the answer you were looking for is not on this list, check Tanning Basics, Tanning at Fabutan, Tanning Smartly or visit one of our locations to talk with a Fabutan CEO.

Why is it important to develop a base tan?

A base tan created from moderate exposure to UV rays helps develop a natural barrier in the skin that protects the body from excessive UV light providing a natural SPF of 2-4. UVB rays stimulate the production of a pigment called melanin, which then oxidizes or darkens when exposed to UVA rays. Melanin absorbs and scatters radiation to thicken the epidermis, your skin's top layer, thereby limiting the amount of UV light penetrating your skin.

If a base tan is not developed or a sunscreen is not used, sunburn can occur and the DNA of your skin cells may become damaged. Even with the protection your skin has developed from a base tan, sunscreen should still be used outdoors.

Why does a tan disappear?

A tan disappears because the epidermis, the top layer of your skin, replaces all of its cells every 28 to 30 days. While moisturizing your skin will prolong a tan, a tan can only be maintained by repeated exposure to UV light.

What causes white spots?

There are several reasons why white spots become noticeable on the body when you start tanning:

  • Prominent white patches of skin on the shoulder blades and just above the buttocks can be caused by pressure from the body as it reclines on a hard tanning bed – inhibiting blood flow through the skin on that area. Since blood carries oxygen, an essential part of the tanning process, this area does not tan. Periodically shifting your body during tanning will make these patches disappear.
  • Certain medications can react unfavorably to UV light exposure. For example, birth control pills can cause blotches and uneven pigmentation of the skin.
  • Patches of skin which do not tan could be the result of genetic determination.
  • White spots could also appear due to the presence of a fungus living on the skin's surface. In this case, the harmless fungus absorbs the UV light that would normally penetrate the skin, causing a white spot. This fungus did not appear as a result of tanning – it simply becomes noticeable once tanning occurs. It can be remedied though the use of prescription drugs or a topical lotion – please consult a physician if you are concerned.

Tanning indoors vs. tanning outdoors. Which is smarter?

When you tan indoors at Fabutan, you are tanning in a controlled environment. This means you will be able to slowly build a gradual tan, develop pigmentation and increase your natural SPF at the right pace for your skin.

The external factors of tanning in the sun – time of year and day, latitude and altitude, cloud coverage, pollutants, and reflective surfaces – are harder to control or predict, and can increase the risk of damaging overexposure.

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