Q. Why should I tan?
A. Sunlight is absolutely essential to all life on earth. There are various reasons, both biological and psychological, why exposure to light is desirable. In addition, many people believe they look better with a tan. Thus, having a tan may provide a psychological uplift for some.

Q. Why does a tan disappear?
A. The "tan," or pigmentation process, occurs in the epidermis, the top skin layer. The epidermis replaces all its skin cells every 28-30 days. Cells in the inner portion of the top skin layer divide themselves, migrate to the surface, gradually die and slough off. Skin cells contain melanin, and as a result of UV exposure, rise to the surface and flake off. Therefore, a tan can be maintained only by repeated exposure to UV light.

Q. How often is a person allowed to tan?
A. Since 1986, the Food and Drug Administration guidelines suggest that a 48-hour should pass between tanning sessions. Pigmentation and/or erythema (sunburn) may not be fully visible for between 12-24 hours. Thus two tanning sessions within this 24-hour period could cause an unintentional burn. In general, maximum pigmentation can be build up gradually, following the exposure schedule, in 8-10 tanning sessions.

Q. A 20-minute session in a tanning bed is equivalent to how many hours in the natural sun?
A. It is difficult to make a simple comparison between the sun and modern indoor tanning equipment. Just as various kinds of indoor tanning lamps and equipment differ in spectral output and energy emitted, the sun's strength is dependant on server factors as well, such as the time of day or year, the latitude, cloud cover, pollution and reflection. Consequently, there is no formula for relating indoor tanning exposure times to outdoor exposure times.

Q. Can the UV rays emitted by indoor tanning lamps pass through the skin and affect internal organs?
A. The UV rays emitted by indoor tanning lamps do not emit sufficient energy to penetrate past the skin layers. Thus, despite claims and rumors to the contrary, internal organs are not directly impacted by longer wave UV light.

Q. Is it harmful to wear contact lenses when tanning indoors?
A. There exists no known reason why contact lenses may not be worn while tanning indoors. When the eyes are kept closed and proper protective eyewear worn, UV light is blocked from penetrating the eye or lens. However, the heat generated by indoor tanning equipment could cause the eye to dry a bit, thereby making the lens uncomfortable. Just as one should moisturize the skin after tanning, contact lens wearers may also use the eye drops recommended by his/her optometrist.

Q. Why do some dermatologists warn people against sun exposure?
A. While some dermatologists may advocate total avoidance of all sun exposure, the media seems to quote only those who do. Many dermatologists and others from the medical community have acknowledged the need for moderate sun exposure, while advocating the use of sunscreens.

Q. What causes white spots?
A. There are several reasons why white spots become noticeable on the body once the tanning process begins.

• Patches of skin, which do not tan, could be the result of genetic determination. The melanocytes in that certain area may simply not be efficient at producing melanin.

• White spots could also appear due to the presence of a fungus, which lives on the skin's surface. While the fungus is harmless, it does absorb UV light, which would normally penetrate the skin. This fungus did not appear as a result of tanning; it merely becomes noticeable once tanning occurs. It can be remedied through the use of prescription drugs or some other topical lotions.

Q. Can indoor tanning cure acne?
A. Photo therapy (or use of UV light) has been effective in easing the skin problems common to this condition. There are also many drugs, including tetracycline and Retin-A, which are also widely used for treatment of acne. Because these drugs can render the skin photosensitive, one must avoid UV exposure when medicated. Furthermore, a qualified physician should only administer the use of UV light for acne treatment. The Food and Drug Administration prohibits indoor tanning equipment operators from asserting that equipment use is beneficial for any purpose other than obtaining cosmetic coloring.

Q. Does tanning help treat depression or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?
A. There exists a growing body of scientific evidence, which indicates that some people actually require more light exposure in order to function properly. Exposure to bright light, such as that emitted by the mid-day summer sun, causes the brain to suppress the release of the hormone melatonin. Melatonin acts as a depressant in the body if generated during the daytime. Thus, when affected people are exposed to longer hours of bright light, they feel happier, euphoric and more able to enjoy life. Bright light sources emitting only visible light, are now frequently used to successfully treat Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and Sub-syndromal Seasonal Affective Disorder (SSAD).

Q. Can tanning cause wrinkles?
A. Excessive exposure, particularly to high intensity UVA, can destroy the resilient fibers of the lower skin layer, thereby causing the top skin layer to sag. Thus, elastosis or wrinkling appears. UVA, if not blocked by pigmentation and skin thickening in the outer skin layer, can penetrate to the dermis and destroy skin elasticity. Thus, if one makes the decision to tan, it is recommended that a light source, which contains both UVA and UVB, be used. Even if a person uses a sunscreen, if it does not block both UVA and UVB, damage to the lower skin layer can still occur upon overexposure.