Stumble It!Tanning Questions and Answers
by OrangePointA tan is the skins natural protection. Sunbeds omit UV A and UV B .When UV A enters the skin the melanin already there reacts with the oxygen in the blood and turns brown. When UV B enters the skin it reaches the lower layers of the epidermis where the melanocytes are and "excites" them into producing melanin.
The melanin produced from this will be distributed throughout the skin over the next 2-3 days. (that's why you should only tan once every 48 hours!).The next time you go in a sunbed this melanin that has been produced will turn brown from the UV A exposure.
About the Author
Jacek Sobala
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Langford str Killorglin,
Interests: SKIN CONTROL
1. What does the SkinControl measure?
SkinControl does measure the tanning power of your tanning bedsand the resistance of your customers’ skin to UV-rays.
2. How is UV-radiation being measured?
SkinControl has an integral UV-measuring system, the complete tanning bed tunnel (canopy, bench, left and right section) will be measured during one measuring process.
3. What is beeing measured during measuring process?
In terms of physics it will be differentiated between UV-A and UV-B, yet, for the tanning process the intensity of radiation power to finally cause sunburn is decisive. This erythema-causing radiation power is defined as the power and the share of UV-radiation which will lead to sunburn (erythema).
4. How are tanning beds being measured?
Due to use tanning lamps will loose a certain portion of their radiation power. In order to take this reduction in power into considerationfor the tanning process, tanning beds will be measured between once a week and once a month. Thus the tanning time will alwaysbe kept to the optimum according to the tanning power of the lamps and sunburn will be avoided.
5. How does measuring of the skin function?
The hand-held sensor will send a UV-ray (absolutely not dangerousfor the skin) to the clients skin. A receiver in the device measures how the skin does reflect and absorbe this UV-ray.
6. How does the skin reflect the radiation?
This reflection forms the decisive protection against UV-radiation and is and is caused by lifeless cell structures of the top layer of the epidermis. This is also known as Keratosis (so-called Lichtschwiele). In other words, the top layer of the live cell structures.
7. How is your colour being measured?
SkinControl does not measure the colour of skin. SkinControl measures the protective function of the skin, the thickness of the Keratosis and the size of the pigments.
8. How much radiation penetrates the skin?
According to the thickness of the Keratosis UV-radiation penetrates to the live cell structures, here we also find the pigments.
9. What is the function of the pigment?
The pigment forms a cap over the nucleus and absorbes the radiation which hits the cell. Hence it protects the nucleus.
10. How is the pigment changing?
SkinControl measures the size of the pigment which is bigger when the skin is tanned compared to the untanned skin. The bigger the pigment the more radiation is beeing absorbed which does mean: the nucleus is protected much better.
