Indoor\Outdoor Tanning

Fredys Fitness Zone

Indoor\Outdoor Tanning

SunsetBeachTan

Where SkinCare, Exercise & Good Nutrition Meet

The Sun, Indoors & Out and Sunscreens*

5 Easy Tips for a Flawless Fake Tan

Follow these steps for the perfect faux glow.
You've heard it a hundred times: The only safe tan comes from a bottle. But getting one without telltale streaks or splotches isn't always easy. Ann Marie Cilmi, director of training at Bliss Spa, teaches aestheticians how to apply a perfect, natural-looking tan. Read on for her streak-free secrets.

Step 1: Prep in the shower.
Exfoliating first helps the self-tanner go on evenly and ensures long wear (DHA, the product's active ingredient, clings best to freshly buffed skin). Avoid supercreamy oil-based exfoliators; their residue prevents skin from absorbing the tanner. (We like Clinique's Sparkle Skin Body Exfoliator, $17.50.) Give extra attention to areas where dead skin accumulates, like knees, elbows, wrists, ankles, hands, and feet. To get skin even smoother, shave, rinse thoroughly, and dry well

Step 2: Moisturize.
Apply moisturizer to ankles, heels, tops of toes, kneecaps, and elbows. This keeps these spots from soaking up excess tanner and turning unnaturally dark. Pour tanner in your hands, and rub them together so the product evenly coats each palm. Be careful not to use too much -- you can always add more. Start applying with long, full strokes, then rub in a circular motion. "By spreading in all directions, you'll blend it better and stay streak-free," Cilmi says.

Step 3: Always work from your lower body up.
This helps you avoid creases and smudges from bending your body. First, cover the area between each ankle and knee. When you're done, apply what remains on your hands to the tops of your feet, ankles, and knees, which don't need as thick a coat. Do the same with your arms, using using leftover tanner on your elbows and the backs of your hands. If you’re flexible, you may be able to reach your shoulders and back yourself. To be sure you don't miss a spot, though, ask a friend to help.

Step 4: Prevent clogged pores and breakouts.
Use a product made specifically for your face, which contains less oil than a tanner made for your body. Face formulas also tend to be lighter in color, and therefore more natural-looking. Apply to spots the sun naturally highlights: nose, cheeks, and midpoints of the chin and forehead. Then blend into the hairline using light, wispy movements.

Step 5: Maintain your results.
To maximize absorption and prevent streaking, wait about eight hours after applying your tanner before moisturizing or hitting the gym, and at least three hours before applying makeup. Most self-tanners contain ingredients that can dry your skin, so moisturize diligently. One of our favorites: Origins Ginger Soufflé Whipped Body Cream ($25). To get the glow you want, you may need to try several tanners. We love Lancome Flash Bronzer Self-Tanning Moisturizing Mousse ($27.50), and Shiseido Self-Tanning Protective Face Cream SPF 8 ($20).

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Why Indoor Tanning Is "Smart Tanning"

Indoor tanning, for individuals who can tan, is an intelligent way to
minimize the risk of contracting sunburn while maximizing the
enjoyment and benefit of having a tan. Again, we call this SMART
TANNING because tanners are taught by trained tanning facility
personnel how their skin type reacts to sunlight and how to avoid
sunburn outdoors, as well as in a salon.

Tanning in a professional facility today minimizes risk because
commercial tanning salons in the United States and in most Canadian
provinces are regulated by the government. In the United States,
exposure times for every tanning session are established by a
schedule present on every piece of equipment that takes into account
the tanner's skin type and the intensity of the equipment to deliver
a dosage of sunlight designed to minimize the risk of sunburn. The
schedule, regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, also takes
into account how long an individual has been tanning, increasing
exposure times gradually to minimize the possibility of burning.

That kind of control is impossible outdoors, where variables
including seasonality, time of day, weather conditions, reflective
surfaces and altitude all make outdoor tanning a random act and
sunburn prevention more difficult.

How Do You Define Moderate Tanning?

The term "moderate tanning" means something different for every
different individual, and that is an important point. The bottom
line - what we call "The Golden Rule of Smart Tanning" - is simple:
Don't EVER sunburn. A fair-skinned, red-headed, green-eyed person may
not have the ability to develop a tan without sunburning. This person
should not attempt to tan then. On the other hand, most of us have
the ability to develop a tan, and the majority of us tan very easily.
Moderation, in our view, means avoiding sunburn at all costs. Going
about that agenda will mean something different to every different
person.

Smart Tanning Means Understanding Benefits and Risks

The professional indoor tanning industry promotes responsible indoor
tanning and sunburn prevention as "smart." We choose not to use the
word "safe." Here is why:

The word "safe" implies that one can recklessly abuse something
without any fear of causing harm. And reckless abandon certainly is
not the behavior the professional indoor tanning industry is
teaching. In fact, we are playing a key role in successfully
preventing that kind of reckless abuse. By teaching a "smart"
approach to sunburn prevention that recognizes that people do
perceive different benefits from being in the sun, we are able to
teach sunburn prevention in a practical way that respects both the
potential benefits and the risks of sun exposure.

For example, previous generations believed that sunburn was an
inconvenient but necessary precursor to developing a tan. Today we
know better, and we are teaching a new generation of tanners how to
avoid sunburn at all costs. Again, our position: Moderate tanning is
the best way to maximize the potential benefits of sun exposure while
minimizing the potential risks of either too much or too little
exposure.

Human life is totally reliant on sun exposure, and the life-giving
effects of ultraviolet light. The question for each of us - a
question that nobody knows the exact answer to - is how much sun
exposure is appropriate, and how much is too much. Basing the answer
to that question on the belief that any exposure increases one's risk
of skin damage - a belief that is not categorically supported in the
medical literature -fails to recognize the positive influence
ultraviolet light and sunlight have on our lives.

New research on breast cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer and
other deadly diseases - research that shows that regular sun exposure
may play a key part in preventing the onset or retarding the growth
of these deadly diseases - supports the position that moderate sun
exposure, for those of us who can develop a tan, is the best way to
maximize the potential benefits of sun exposure while minimizing the
potential risks of either too much or too little exposure.

How Do Indoor Tanning Facilities Teach Sunburn Prevention?

The indoor tanning industry is at the forefront in educating people how to successfully avoid sunburn over the course of one's life. In fact, studies of indoor tanners have shown consistently that indoor tanning customers, once they begin tanning in a professional salon, are up to 81 percent less likely to sunburn than they were before they started tanning.

Consider that sunburn incidence in the general population has been steadily increasing. Sunburn increased 9 percent from 1986-1996, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), and the sub-group most likely to burn was older men.

We believe that teaching people strictly to avoid the sun may be making them more likely to sunburn when they do go outside for summer activities - and everyone does go outdoors at some point. Consider:

Tanning is your body's natural defense mechanism against sunburn, and indoor tanners have activated this defense against burning; non-tanners are more vulnerable when they inevitably do go outdoors.
Indoor tanners are educated at professional tanning facilities how to avoid sunburn outdoors, how to use sunscreens appropriately and how to properly moisturize their skin.

When you also consider that the majority of people who sunburn are male, according to the AAD, and that 65-70 percent of indoor tanning customers are female, clearly, it is non-tanners who are doing most of the burning outdoors. In the war against sunburn, tanning salons are part of the solution. Those who abstain from sun exposure completely are more likely to sunburn when they inevitably do go outdoors, even if they attempt to wear sunscreen.

Substance Reports: The Sun and Sunscreens

Baking in the sun is something we've been taught is good for us. And though it feels good, there are some serious issues when it comes to skincare. Too much sun is simply perilous to skin, so it's important to protect your precious skin from damaging exposure. Don't think that you're okay because it's winter or the sun isn't out in full force -- you're in danger even under these conditions. For example, in the winter the sun is closer to the earth and its rays are even stronger.

Here we review just why the sun can have devastating effects on your skin -- from producing brown spots to causing wrinkles -- and how to protect yourself with a sunscreen selected for your type of skin.

What Causes Sunburn and Skin Damage?
There are two kinds of ultraviolet rays that reach the earth's surface: ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB). UVB rays cause your skin to show the signs of sunburn, but most sunscreens protect against them. These rays also are partially screened out by the ozone layer, an invisible shield that protects us from the sun. But over the years the ozone layer has become thinner, so we're getting more exposure.

UVA rays don't burn your skin, but they do contribute the most damage. They penetrate your skin more deeply and affect the cells on a molecular level. That's why it's important to look for a sunscreen that will protect you from both UVA and UVB rays. UVA damage results not only in wrinkles and sagging skin, but also can cause skin cancer. And UVA intensifies with altitude, so it's particularly important to protect yourself when skiing or mountain climbing.

Selecting a Sunscreen
The best protection from the sun is to stay out of it. But there are ways to protect yourself when you can't avoid exposure. Sunscreens must be part of your daily regimen. They're available under a bevy of cosmetic labels and offered in the form of lotions, creams, gels, sprays and oils. A good sunscreen absorbs and/or blocks ultraviolet rays; make sure the one you choose is effective against both UVB and UVA. (Look for the ingredients parsol 1789 or zinc oxide.) Scientists used to believe that it was only UVB rays that caused skin cancer, but they now know that UVA rays are, in fact, more dangerous. At present, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has mandated only that sunscreens protect against UVB rays, but experts say that in the near future, the FDA will require protection against UVA as well.

When choosing a sunscreen or sunblock you'll notice an SPF (sun protection factor) number. The SPF indicates the amount of exposure your skin can handle from UVB rays before turning red. Dermatologists recommend an SPF of at least 15 for all skin types. To figure out how long it will take you to develop a sunburn, multiply the SPF number by 10; for example, with SPF 15 you should be able to stay outside for 150 minutes before burning.

Even with a protective sunscreen, you need to use common sense about how long you stay in the sun. Improved sunscreens have encouraged people to stay out in the sun for greater periods of time, but dermatologists stress that no matter what strength sunscreen you use, you'll still get some exposure. And if the product you've selected has only UVB protection, you're at risk for the most serious kinds of skin damage, including skin cancer. In fact, in recent years there seems to have been an increased incidence of skin cancers; doctors theorize it's because more people are using UVB protection only and remaining in the sun longer.

How to Use a Sunscreen
For optimal protection, generously apply a generous amount of sunscreen over all parts of your body that will be exposed to the sun -- the mistake many people make is not applying enough. Let it absorb for at least 15 minutes before going outdoors.

Keep in mind that some people are allergic to certain ingredients found in some sunscreens, so it's a good idea to test the product first on a small portion of your skin. (It's not advisable to test it on your face.)

Although some sunscreens claim to be water-repellent or waterproof, you should still reapply every two hours. If you go into the water or participate in any activity that causes you to sweat excessively, you should reapply sunscreen immediately after drying off.

Nowadays, many makeup foundations contain a sunscreen of SPF 15; this can protect you during the day. Lips also need to be protected from the sun; many lip balms have an SPF of 15 or higher.

Which SPF is Right for You?
Here's an idea of what level of protection you should use, according to skin type:

Fair or light-skinned … have freckles … never tan … burn easily … are sensitive to the sun … SPF 25
Medium skin … olive complexioned … of Mediterranean origin, such as Italian … tan easily … SPF 15
Dark skin … Arab, Asian or African American … tan very easily … start with SPF 15, but can taper down to SPF 6 after tan develops

The sun is the strongest between 10am and 3pm, and even stronger in the summer and closer to the equator. Remember, you don't have to be at the beach to wind up with a sunburn -- any exposure to the sun makes you vulnerable.

Note: The best way to completely block the sun is to wear a wide-brimmed hat, clothing and sunglasses.

Adverse Skin Reactions
Certain medications and chemicals can make you sunburn more easily and can provoke other irritations. Before taking any medication always ask your doctor or pharmacist if the drug can make you photosensitive, making sun exposure a problem.

Here are some of the drugs that cause sensitivities:

Bactrim, an antibiotic
diuretics, such as thiazides
ciprofloxacin, an antibiotic, or any other antibiotic that has "floxacin" in its name
isotretinoin (Accutane), an acne medication
sulfa drugs, used for urinary tract infections
tetracycline, an antibiotic commonly prescribed to treat acne
tretinoin (Retin-A)