Sunburn Prevention: Smart Tanning for Teens

Smart Tanning for Teens Teaching tanners and non-tanners of all ages tn how to avoid sunburn as a lifelong commitment is one of this professional tanning facility's primary objectives.

What is Project Smart Teen?

This salon voluntarily participates in "Project Smart Teen." Why teens? It's important that teens and their parents understand the difference between sunburn and tanning in moderation, both indoors and outdoors. This salon is trained and equipped to help you learn to prevent sunburn as a part of your intelligent, active lifestyle.

Tanning vs. Burning

People used to believe that sunburn was just an inevitable part of starting a tan. Some actually think you have to burn before you can tan. Today, we know how wrong that belief is, and we know that your skin can be temporarily or permanently damaged by burning.

Tanning is a natural process -- your body is designed to produce melanin, which darkens the skin. A tan is a gradual increase in natural skin pigmentation and is your body's natural way of building up protection against the injury of sunburn. Make sense, right?

Sunburn is a totally different process. Sunburn is an injury; the red color is actually increased blood flow, which is sent to the skin to help the body repair the damage done by overexposure to ultraviolet light.

By practicing Smart Tanning, you can develop your natural tan gradually while minimizing the chances of getting a sunburn.

Just the Facts

We believe the practice of Smart Tanning leads to better sunburn prevention than simply avoiding the sun altogether. And research supports the belief:

Young skin is more susceptible to sunburn than adult skin, so it is especially important that teens who choose to tan practice Smart Tanning and sunburn prevention.

Studies have shown that teens who tan in tanning facilities are less likely to sunburn outdoors compared to non-tanners.

Teens use tanning facilities in the spring to build base tans that - combined with sunscreen usage - help prevent sunburn on spring break, vacations and in summer months more effectively than sunscreen usage alone.

A recent study revealed that 83% of teens who tan indoors prior to taking sunny vacations report that their indoor tan, combined with proper sunscreen, helped them to prevent sunburn.

Science suggests that burning at a early age may increase your risk of skin damage later in life, but there is no hard data to suggest that tanning alone is more dangerous for any specific age group.

Today's professional indoor tanning facilities are leaders in teaching Smart Tanning, including the proper use of sunscreens outdoors to prevent sunburn.

Now, let's look at SPF and how to determine the proper amount of sunscreen needed with your base tan.

SPF, or Sun Protection Factor, increases the length of time you can stay outside in the sun without incurring sunburn or irritation from UV-B rays. At present there is no standard to measure protection from UV-A rays.

Calculate your recommended SPF:

Select your skin type. The corresponding amount of time indicates how long you can stay safely in the sun before burning.
Fair skin - 10 minutes
Olive skin - 15 minutes
Dark skin - 20 minutes
Look at the SPF on your sunscreen. Note which SPF is stated on the product labeling, eg. SPF 20
Calculate your protection time, the amount of time you can stay outside before burning:

Multiply the sun safety time for your skin type with the SPF listed on your sunscreen.
eg. 15 minutes (for olive skin) x SPF 20 = 300 minutes (5 hours) of sun protection
Result: Olive skin using a sunscreen with SPF 20 can under ideal conditions stay in the sun for up to 5 hours.

Smart Tanning for Teens

By practicing Smart Tanning, you develop your natural tan gradually, while reducing the chances of burning your skin. Here are 7 steps to live by:

1. Avoid Sunburn.
The Golden Rule of Smart Tanning is the indispensable rule: Don't ever sunburn. Work with your tanning facility to build you tan gradually.

2. Know Your Skin Type.
A professional tanning facility will teach you your skin type on a scale from Type I to VI and what that number means.

3. Use Sunscreen Correctly.
Use sunscreen outdoors correctly - even if you tan indoors. Apply a full-spectrum sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays before heading outside for best results. you can develop a tan outdoors while wearing sunscreen.

4. Protect Your Eyes.
While outside, protect your eyes with sunglasses that block the UVA and UVB rays. Always wear proper indoor tanning protective eyewear when tanning in a salon.

5. Be Serious About Your Medications.
Some medications (including many antibiotics, acne medications and birth control pills) can make your skin more susceptible to sunburn and splotches. Talk to your tanning salon staff if you are taking medications.

6. Practice Makes Perfect.
Like school and sports, avoiding sunburn is a daily job. Make sunburn protection a habit.

7. Give Yourself Time to Tan.
Important events like prom, spring break, vacation and graduation take time to get ready for...so does tanning. Talk to your salon staff to get a schedule that works for your skin type and your tanning goals.

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