ETS Tanning Bed Blog

Vitamin D is critical to our health. It helps us build strong bones, absorb calcium, and ward off diseases. But are we getting enough of this wonder vitamin and how do we know?

Finding Your Optimal Vitamin D Level

Your optimal vitamin D level depends on a number of factors, including your age, weight, skin color and even surrounding environmental factors.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children should be getting 400 IUs (international units) of vitamin D per day as a way of achieving healthy bone development during a period of growth. The National Institutes of Health has also released this chart, breaking down optimal vitamin D consumption by various age groups (assuming the individual is not receiving vitamin D from sunlight exposure):

 

First Texas, now Arkansas.

Arkansas, like Texas, is one of more than a dozen states considering such bills. Texas also has bills that go a step further and require a doctor's note.

Currently, Texas is seeking approval on House Bill (HB) 1310, which restricts teens younger than 18 from using indoor tanning equipment.

While the politicians of Texas are pondering that law, Arkansas lawmakers are also working to restrict teen tanning. Governor Mike Beebe says he plans to sign a bill requiring salon owners to get waivers signed by parents for clients under 18.

Representative Bruce Maloch sponsored Arkansas' tanning bill, he says, as a way to raise awareness about the possible harmful affects.

For now Arkansas teens can walk into any salon and tan, provided they have their parents sign a waver before getting into a tanning bed.

The waiver will have warnings about the possible dangers of repeated exposure to indoor tanning. And Arkansas lawmakers are trying to raise awareness about tanning safety.

The bill, HB1920 is still waiting on Governor Beebe's signature. The bill applies to tanning salons, apartments and gyms any businesses offering the service. There is no penalty or enforcement for the requirement.

And like the bill in Texas, this bill is getting a strong reaction from both sides – the ones trying to enforce the law and the ones who oppose it: the teens and, not surprisingly, the tanning salon owners, who have said they alert all teens of the potential dangers of overexposure.

Persuading teens to stop tanning could be a hard sell as many are concerned about physical appearances at that age. Another factor is a teenager's quest for independence at that age. A law like this will take away that freedom, something teens value as they assert themselves in the world.

Texas legislators seem to be ignoring the fact that they're already well-known for outdoor tanning on their beaches. They're ignoring the most popular tanning method in favor of curtailing the business practices of local business owners.

Other states considering similar measures include Florida and Hawaii, two other very popular outdoor tanning locales.

To learn more about legislation in your state, contact your local government or visit the Indoor Tanning Association Web site .

Finding a tanning salon isn't an easy task. It's not like picking a restaurant or grocery store. Going to the most popular one is an option, but if you like to tan at certain times of day, chances are everyone else does too, so you're either stuck waiting or have to find a different time of day.

Remember, this is a place you're going to visit a few times a month. You want to find the best one that fits you, so there are a few questions you need to ask yourself.

It Starts With the Staff

The salon staff will make or break a salon. Are they friendly and outgoing and willing to answer your questions? Or are they sullen and unfriendly, and huff whenever you need something? The salon staffers should be knowledgeable about their equipment, the best lotions to use, and can tell you about your skin type and design a regimen just for you.

Did they take the time to understand your needs and budget, or do they want to fit you into their one-size-fits-all package?

What About the Tanning Beds?

There are four basic levels of tanning beds. Does your salon have at least three of them? Do they have more than one of each type to avoid scheduling backups? We've come a long way from one type of tanning bed, so hopefully your salon has too. It's important that you rotate between tanning beds to achieve and maintain your tan.

Get a tour of the place, and take a look inside the beds. Be sure to ask questions. Are the beds clean? How often do they clean them? (Correct: After every use. Wrong: Anything less.) Do they provide protective eyewear?

Basically a good salon will be able to answer yes to all of these questions. They'll have a number of different tanning beds, they'll have sanitary eye protection, they'll clean the beds after each use, and of course, the staff will be friendly and professional.

The short of it is if you're not happy with the salon, move on to the next one. The most popular or the cheapest salons are not always the best fit. You may get lost in the shuffle at the popular salons, and you'll get what you pay for at the cheapest. It's your skin. Make sure you're happy with what you get.

For stars like American Idol judge Simon Cowell, true privacy means having their own indoor tanning beds right in their homes. Instead of a trip to the tanning salon (think Britney Spears), it's a trip down the hall.

Whether it’s outdoors or indoors, tanning is a very relaxing and a great way to escape the everyday problems and stresses life throws at you. But safety must be followed, not only for the skin, but the eyes. Like outdoor tanning, you must protect your eyes while using a tanning bed . It’s very important to use some sort of protection and closing your eyes isn’t the answer.

“Why? What’s wrong if I just keep my eyes closed?"

According to several health experts, eyelids offer limited protection from ultraviolet (UV) rays. This can cause short term damage to your eyes. Red, itchy or watery eyes may be an indication of short-term damage. Long-term damage can include dangerous problems, like cataracts or even blindness.

Most tanning salons provide eye protection while using their facilities. On the whole, tanning salons offer customers strap on goggles with highly tinted viewing holes, while others will give you a disposable aluminum eye shield for each eye. Some may even offer sun glasses or allow the customer to bring their own. But regardless of what you use, it’s vital you use some form of protection.

Using eye protection while in a tanning booth is just as important as wearing sunglasses outdoors on a sunny day. UV rays can severely damage your eyes and cause many problems later in life. Nobody in their right mind would stare at the sun. And although not as powerful as the sun, looking at the lights in a tanning bed without protection is also dangerous. Like sunglasses, goggles block 100% of the UV rays, and keep your eyes safe and healthy.

If you're concerned about sanitation from using the salon's goggles, you can buy your own. Many tanning salons sell eye protection directly to their customers for just this reason. This can help assure that the protection you are using is completely free of germs and other eye related diseases that can be spread from customer to customer.

Salon owners, are you educating your customers on the importance of a good moisturizer as a part of their tanning regimen?

Like tanning lotion, moisturizing lotion is an important part of the indoor tanning process.

It's important because the UV lights can dry out your skin. Moisturizing preserves and extends tanning results, enhances the appearance of an existing tan, and moisturizes the skin so it looks and feels better. Moisturizing makes the skin soft, smooth, healthier-looking, helps prevent peeling and flaking, and won't clog pores.

Even after the tanning bed shuts off, the tanning process is still going on. That means it's vital your customers keep their skin moisturized during and after this process. A good moisturizing lotion like Australian Gold's Moisture Lock Tan Extender .

Finally, it's easier to tan moist skin. That's because dry skin, as it turns white from the dryness, will actually reflect some of the UV rays. On the other hand, moist skin will absorb those rays, making them tan easier.

Customers should use moisturizing lotion to get that better tan and to make it last longer. Skin dries out and exfoliates and the more you moisturize the healthier your skin becomes and you don't lose your tan.

For salon owners, the message to relate to your customers is to moisturize the skin one way or another to help protect the skin and to enhance the tan. It's good to ask your customer how important their skin is and once they answer, then you can make the recommendations.

This also becomes an extra revenue stream for you, because you'll recommend your products, which will benefit them.

By having a customer talk to a professional, the tanning pro can recommend the best type of moisturizer to use. There are several, varying lines and they represent different prices and ingredients.

Whether you have your own personal tanning bed or you run a chain of tanning salons, one of your primary concerns is going to be the cleanliness of your machine(s). A clean tanning bed is more than just germ free, it'll last longer too.

When an indoor tanning bed gets dirty, that grime can become fungus. Not only can this fungus spread to other users, it can affect the operation and functionality of the bed. Good tanning bed cleaners won't just keep your beds disinfected, they'll improve their tanning power by as much as 20-40%.

When To Use Tanning Bed Cleaners

Salon staff should clean tanning bed acrylics after every use. The outside of the beds and handles should also be sanitized. Remember, users touch more than just the acrylics.

In addition to regular cleaning after every use, a commercial tanning bed should be thoroughly cleaned inside and out at least once a week . This will help maintain the appearance of the unit and its performance.

Popular Tanning Bed Cleaners

Ultra-Clean Tanning Bed Cleaner: Ultra-Clean comes in citrus and unscented. To avoid overwhelming your users with a citrusy scent, we recommend the unscented version. It's EPA registered in all states and acts as a cleaner, polisher, deodorizer and sanitizer.

Australian Gold Tanning Bed Cleaner: Australian Gold's tanning bed cleaner is a one-step cleaner with no fuss and no mess. There's no leftover film and no need to rinse. It's a disinfectant with a neutral pH AND it acts as a sanitizer, deodorizer, virucide and fungicide. This is one of the best cleaners out there.

Lucasol Tanning Bed Cleaner: Lucasol is another one-step brand of deodorizing disinfectant. It's hospital-grade and free from any dyes or scents.

Novus Tanning Bed Cleaner: This disinfectant is part sanitizer and part polish. It leaves behind a protective sheen that repels dust and minimizes static. Some users complain that the film is too obvious and a tad sticky. I'd recommend trying a sample before you invest in a full order of this product.

How Clean Are Your Indoor Tanning Beds?

You may require your staff to clean them after every use, but just how clean are your tanning beds? Are they meeting the highest standards for cleanliness? Are you changing your acrylics regularly based on usage?

Acrylics gradually degrade and limit the amount of UV light that will pass through to the tanner! Be sure to check with your manufacturer as to the expected life of your acrylics so you know when to change them.

Remember, if you're noticing that the tanning beds in your tanning salons maybe aren't up to the highest standards, your customers are definitely noticing. Require your staff to not only clean the beds after every use, but to always do a double check before sending a client into a room.