Frequently asked questions & TANNING TIPS

Are there any benefits to tanning?

Besides healthy looking skin, indoor tanning can duplicate other beneficial properties of sunlight.
There is strong evidence that sunlight is known to:

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What are the benefits of tanning year round?

Spring
Why wait for summer? Get a healthy start on your summer tan and prepare your skin for the stronger summer sun to come.

Summer
Avoid the hassles of outdoor tanning such as annoying insects and exhausting heat. For working people, why wait all week for a chance to tan on the weekend only to burn or have cloudy weather?

Fall
As summer fades, don't let your tan fade with it. Hang onto your tan with our simple, inexpensive maintenance program.

Winter
Escape the "winter blues" with a mini vacation tanning session and enjoy a beautiful tan even in the winter. You'll look and feel fantastic!

What about the protective eyewear?

You must wear protective eyewear as your eyelids do not provide protection against ultraviolet rays. To avoid the risk of easily transmitted infections, we recommend buying your own eyewear.

What about suntan lotions and oils?

You may not use outdoor products for indoor tanning. However, at Sienna Tan we have specially formulated products specifically for indoor tanning that you should use. These products will have special ingredients that can speed up the tanning process by as much as 70%! They will also have moisturizers present which will replace moisture that is lost during tanning, bathing and other external factors. Remember that moist skin tans better and is healthier. Oils are not allowed in tanning beds because it ruins the acrylics. As a result of the same type of damage, the following lotions are not permitted: Banana Boat, Hawiiian Tropic, No Ad, or Lotion Potion. Check with any Sienna Tan associate for further questions.

Should I tan before my vacation?

Absolutely! A tan is your skin's natural way of protecting itself against over-exposure. By gradually getting a tan indoors first, you can pre-condition your skin to spend more time in the outdoor sun. Get the most out of your vacation investment!

How long will it take to get a tan?

Many skin types will show color change after the second or third session. Most can achieve a beautiful tan after about 8-10 full sessions in a low pressure bed and 2-3 sessions in a high pressure bed. After that, only one or two times per week will maintain your golden tan indefinitely.

What is the tanning process?

UVB stimulates the melanocyte cells in the skin to produce melanin (a pigment) which is then oxidized by UVA, turning it brown. As the outer layer of skin sheds, cells are lost and your tan will fade. Therefore, to maintain a tan requires continuous exposure to ultraviolet light. The degree of coloring depends on the amount of melanin you have, your individual reaction to ultraviolet light, and the time of exposure.

Are indoor and outdoor tans the same?

Just like natural sunlight, an indoor tanning system produces ultraviolet rays. The difference is that only UVA and diminished UVB rays are emitted and no UVC. Other factors of outdoor tanning, such as time of day and year, altitude, cloud coverage, pollution, reflective surfaces, etc. can radically change proper exposure times outdoors. The tanning process is the same indoors, however, there is definitely more exposure control.

What are the different sun rays?

The sun emits three kinds of non-visible ultraviolet light: UVA, UVB and UVC. UVC is the shortest, most harmful light but is stopped by the earth's ozone layer. UVB is the medium wave length of light and is necessary to trigger the tanning process, but too much UVB can cause sunburn. UVA is the longest wave length and is responsible for the oxidization of melanin in the skin.

Are you protecting your lips?

Lips do not produce melanin and need extra protection from the sun to prevent aging.  All exposure to your lips is over exposure. Using a lip balm prevents the skin damage and the premature aging caused by over exposure. As you age, your lips wrinkle and thin, so protect them with a good lip balm product.  Using an over the counter lip balm is harmful because most contain photosensitive ingredients or are packed with ingredients that lock and coat preventing your lips from self hydrating!