Frequently Asked Questions

The Mirage Tanning Centers believes that education is the most essential key to tanning clients correctly. Skin types recognized by the medical profession are listed below.

Skin Type I
Always burns, never tans.
Little to no tan.
Skin Type II
Always burns, sometimes tans.
Minimal tan.
Skin Type III
Sometimes burns, always tans.
Tans gradually.
Skin Type IV
Never burns, tans readily.
Tans easily, light brown.
Skin Type V
Moderate skin pigmentation.
Tans darkly, dark brown.
Skin Type VI
Marked skin pigmentation.
Darkly pigmented.

It is always better to err on the side of safety than to take a chance with overexposure.-->The Mirage Tanning Centers recommends following the listed steps while tanning.

Safety Step #1: Protect Eyes

Eye damage is the most unnecessary risk people face while tanning. Protective eyewear is provided and must be worn. Unfortunately, a number of tanners still push eyewear aside, fearful that wearing it could create white rings around their eyes that will contrast with their tan. Some clients will try to use inferior eye protection that can be penetrated by ultraviolet light, such as sunglasses, towels, cotton balls, or their eyelids. It is essential that protective eyewear be worn and worn correctly. Also, people who wear contact lenses may want to remove them before tanning indoors. Although the protective eyewear will protect the eyes and lenses from damage, the heat emitted from the unit may dry out the lenses and irritate the eyes. Celsius Tannery® provides contact solution and cases for the comfort and convenience of all of our clients.

Safety Step #2: Protect Skin

The easiest way to protect the skin is to avoid overexposure at all costs. You should make certain skin is completely clean before tanning, because some ingredients in cologne and makeup can increase sensitivity to light. Also, follow the recommended exposure schedule from your tanning consultant and always leave at least 24 hours between sessions. The Mirage Tanning Centers sell a full line of tanning products. We have found these to be the best products available. Use of the recommended accelerators will increase tanning results as well as keeping the skin moisturized allowing it to hold the tan longer.

Safety Step #3: Protect Sensitive Body Parts

Some body parts have sensitive areas of skin that lack protective melanin because they are not normally exposed to light. Clients should especially protect these areas from overexposure. These sensitive body parts should be covered with a towel or clothing halfway through a tanning session, a process which allows the skin to develop melanin slowly. Eventually, melanin production will catch up to the rest of the body, resulting in an even, overall tan. You should also protect your lips with a balm containing an SPF, because lips contain no melanocytes and cannot produce melanin as protection.

Ultraviolet light is the catalyst, and a pigment in your skin called melanin does the rest. Here’s the layman’s description of the entire process:

Tanning takes place in the skin’s outermost layer, the epidermis. About five percent of the cells in your epidermis are special cells called melanocytes. When exposed to Ultraviolet B light (short waves), melanocytes produce melanin- the pigment which is ultimately responsible for your tan. The pinkish melanin travels up through the epidermis and is absorbed by other skin cells. When exposed to Ultraviolet A light (long waves), the melanin oxidizes or darkens. This darkening is your skin’s way of protecting itself from too much Ultraviolet light.

Everyone has the same number of melanocytes in their body- about five million. But your heredity dictates how much melanin your body’s melanocytes naturally will produce. For example, the skin of African Americans contains enough melanin to create a black or brown skin color, while the skin of Caucasians has less melanin and is pale.

In order to most effectively avoid overexposure, a tan should be acquired gradually, according to the guidelines provided by your Tannery consultant. A sunburn occurs when too much ultraviolet light reaches the skin and disrupts the tiny blood vessels near the skin’s surface.

Understanding Ultraviolet Light

Ultraviolet light, whether produced by the sun or an indoor tanning unit, consists of two main components, UVA and UVB, both of which contribute differently to your tan. Indoor tanning equipment utilizes a carefully formulated and controlled mixture of the two light waves, designed to tan you with a minimized risk of sunburn. Tanning outdoors does not give you this control, because the sun emits the entire spectrum of ultraviolet light. That’s why we call indoor tanning “smart tanning”.

The Epidermis

Your skins epidermis consists of two layers: the germinative layer (the “living” epidermis) and the horny layer (the “dead” epidermis). When exposed to ultraviolet light, melanocytes in the germinative layer produce melanin which is absorbed by the surrounding cells. This creates a protective barrier from ultraviolet light reaching deeper, more sensitive layers of the skin. This whole tanning process is the body’s own natural defense against sunburn and skin damage.

Why Redder isn’t Better

Many people grow up thinking that if they don’t experience a slight red or pinkish tinge after they tan that they didn’t “get anything”. The truth is that the red or pinkish tinge you see is actually sunburn- your skins worst enemy. The fact is that sunburns we experience due to lack of information when we are growing up are the very things that lead to skin damage later in life.

Smart tanners know that the key to avoiding sunburn is moderation in terms of UV exposure. The best way to ensure a “smart tan” is to take advantage of the years of research that have gone into tanning equipment to provide you with a controlled, predictable dosage of ultraviolet light. Also, use lotions to moisturize before and after tanning and, if you do tan outdoors, remember to always wear SPF’s. Several other environmental factors come into play with outdoor UV light, making exposure unpredictable. Don’t rely on the color of your skin to tell you when to get out of the sun. Overexposure isn’t evident sometimes until hours after the sun’s gone down. It’s better to use a sunscreen and to wear protective clothing than to risk overexposure which can lead to skin damage.

Medication

If you are taking any medications, please let one of our tanning consultants know. Some medications can increase sensitivity to ultraviolet exposure.

Exfoliation

Avoid using loofahs or body poufs in the shower or bath. These products increase your natural rate of exfoliation. Remember, tans don't fade. They naturally exfoliate with your skin every 28 days. Lack of moisture and harsh products such as loofahs will increase this cycle

Makeup

Remove all makeup before tanning. Most makeup products contain SPF's that are not necessary when tanning in a controlled environment. Some cosmetic products may even contain ingredients that will increase your sensitivity to ultraviolet exposure.

Cover Up

If you plan to tan in the nude, cover previously unexposed areas for the majority of your tanning time for the first few visits. Gradually increase exposure to these areas until they catch up to the rest of your body.

Moisturize your skin!

The heat and light from tanning sessions can dry your skin. Because moist skin tans best, we recommend using tanning accelerators before each session and moisturizers after and between all visits.

Lips

Protect your lips. They do not produce melanin and they will burn easily unless you protect them with lip balms or sunscreens.

Eyes

Protect your eyes. Simply closing them or wearing outdoor sunglasses is not adequate protection against possible long-term eye injury. That risk can be eliminated by wearing the FDA compliant eye protection provided at The Mirage Tanning Centers.

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).

The health benefits include but are not limited to: production of Vitamin D, decreased risks of breast and colon cancer, and reduced risk of sunburn. The psychological benefits of tanning are also well researched. Sunlight deprivation has been linked to some mental disorders. There are numerous reasons, physical and psychological, why exposure to ultraviolet light is desirable.

UV light is the main source of Vitamin D for humans. UV light causes the skin to create previtamin D, which, in turn, make Vitamin D that is necessary for good health, bone formation and repair, and the absorption of calcium and phosphorous in the body. The presence of Vitamin D in the body can decrease the risks of developing breast and colon cancers. Tanning also provides natural protection from sunburn. Melanin (tanning pigment) helps the skin absorb ultraviolet rays without causing damage to surrounding cells, thereby offering protection from sunburn.

Yes, the use of indoor tanning lotions will provide the three essentials of effective tanning: hydration, nutrition, and oxygenation. Skin must be hydrated to reach and maintain the desired tan. Dry, neglected skin reflects UV light and exfoliates much faster. The natural, vitamin rich products sold at The Mirage Tanning Centers are fundamental to the skin's appearance and ability to tan. Vitamins replenish necessary nutrition to skin cells, promoting cell regeneration and oxygenation. Oxygen fuels skin cell functions, thereby accelerating the tanning process. Our trained personnel will recommend the appropriate product for you.

The tan, or pigmentation process, occurs in the epidermis, the top layer of the skin. Everyone's skin naturally exfoliates every 28-30 days.

The Food and Drug Administration suggests that a 48 hour time period should pass between tanning sessions. Pigmentation and/or sunburn may not be fully visible for between 12-24 hours. Thus, two tanning sessions within a 24 hour period could cause an unintentional burn. In general, following the recommended exposure schedule and the recommendation of your tanning consultant will provide the best results.

Although this is a popular myth, ultraviolet light waves cannot penetrate so deeply to affect the body's tissues and organs. Ultraviolet rays are not the same as X-rays or heat rays and, therefore, have different effects on the body. Overexposure will result in sunburn, but will not effect internal organs.

Excessive exposure can destroy the resilient fibers of the lower skin layer, thereby causing the top layer of skin to sag. Thus, elastosis or wrinkling appears. If UV light is not blocked by pigmentation in the outer skin layer, it can penetrate to the dermis and destroy skin elasticity. Thus, it is advised to avoid overexposure to ultraviolet light.

It is not advised to wear contact lenses while tanning. Although wearing the provided protective eyewear will protect your eyes from ultraviolet light, the heat generated could cause drying and discomfort. The Mirage Tanning Centers provides contact cases and solution at our vanity area for your convenience.

While some dermatologists may advocate total avoidance of UV 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.

Itching and/or rashes may be linked to several unrelated causes, so it is important to obtain a tanning history on each customer. Some people are naturally photosensitive upon exposure to ultraviolet light. Others are susceptible to heat rashes, a cause totally unrelated to the UV exposure. Certain chemicals or ingredients found in cosmetics, lotions, shampoo, and even disinfecting agents may cause itching as well. Rashes caused by these products generally occur in localized areas on which the products were applied. It is advised to tan with the skin as clean as possible and to only use products approved or suggested by your tanning consultant. If discontinued use of a suspected product does not inhibit the problem, a person should discontinue any exposure to UV light until the condition subsides or visit a physician.

Tinea Versicolor, a skin condition that affects tanners, is caused by a microscopic fungus from the scalp. This fungus falls onto arms, shoulders, and other body parts and leaves bleached areas on the skin, which can spread. It is treatable and must be protected from further ultraviolet light exposure until those bleached areas have begun developing melanin again.

Phototherapy (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 the treatment of acne. Because these drugs can render the skin photosensitive, one must avoid UV exposure when medicated. Furthermore, the use of UV light for acne treatment should only be administered by a qualified physician. 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.

There is no conclusive evidence which substantiates that malignant melanoma is caused by gradual, moderate UV exposure. However, those who are predisposed to develop melanoma due to hereditary factors may intensify this condition with exposure to indoor or outdoor UV light. While some studies have suggested a link between severe sunburn and malignant melanoma, there are other studies available that prove an inverse relationship. In a study published in the International Journal of Cancer in 1989 (known as the Western Canada Melanoma Study), Canadian researchers found a significant inverse association between melanoma and chronic or long-term occupational sun exposure in men, with the lowest risk in those with maximum occupational exposure. This may suggest that repeated exposure can be protective. Gradual, moderate exposure is not believed to be a strong influential factor as melanoma generally develops on those areas not normally exposed to UV light.

People cannot contract diseases from properly sanitized, well maintained tanning beds. Disease specialists have said that no evidence exists to prove that sanitized tanning units have spread diseases.

The F.D.A. and Federal Trade Commission forbid making representations regarding the benefits of indoor tanning other than it's cosmetic effect. Therefore, one may not make medical claims about indoor tanning equipment. However, phototherapy (U.V. light treatment) can be used to ease the symptoms of psoriasis. The treatment is rendered by a trained physician with equipment specifically designed for such a purpose.

Ultraviolet radiation from tanning equipment does not affect tissues below the surface of the skin, including a developing, unborn baby. Medical professionals do not know how pregnancy is affected by the heat generated by tanning equipment. Also, a woman in advanced pregnancy could experience difficulty and discomfort using tanning equipment as most units would be too small and cramped. Although we will not allow pregnant women to tan, we are always more than happy to extend packages to be used after the child is born.

Tanning attire is entirely up to the client. The potential danger of tanning nude is ultraviolet overexposure-such as sunburn-of sensitive body parts that are not normally exposed to ultraviolet light. It is recommended that sensitive body parts be gradually exposed to prevent overexposure.