5778 East Boulevard, Vancouver, BC
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few frequently asked questions and answers regarding tanning.
Health Benefits - Tanning Myths vs Reality
How do we get a tan?
The tanning process is really quite simple, and works the same way whether you tan indoors or outdoors. Ultraviolet light is the catalyst, and a pigment produced by your skin called melanin does the rest.
Here's a basic explanation of the tanning process:
- Tanning occurs in the skin's outermost layer, the epidermis. About five percent of the cells in your epidermis are special cells, called melanocytes. Everyone has the same number of melanocytes in their body - about five million. Your heredity dictates your skin type, and how much melanin your body will produce.
- When exposed to ultraviolet B light (short-wave UV), the melanocytes produce melanin - the pigment that 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 (longer-wave UV), the melanin oxidizes or darkens. This darkening of your skin - your tan - is its natural way of protecting itself against UV overexposure.
- A sunburn, or erythema, is the result of UV-overexposure - when too much UV light reaches the skin and disrupts the tiny blood vessels near the skin's surface, causing it to redden. The reddening is the result of increased blood circulation, naturally triggered by the skin trying to repair damaged cells.
- In order to most effectively avoid UV-overexposure, a tan should be acquired gradually, according to the guidelines recommended by a tanning salon professional.
What can I expect during my first session at Hot Shots?
When you come to the salon for your first tanning session, you will first be asked to fill out a consent form. This form will provide us with information about your Skin Type, which helps determine your initial exposure time. To avoid the risk of burning, please be sure to read the form carefully and answer the questions accurately.
Next, a tanning consultant will show you to a tanning room and explain how to use the sunbed or booth. If you have any questions at this time, just ask!
The salon's computer controls your tanning session time. You will have five minutes to prepare - undress, apply lotion and eye protection -- before the tanning system's timer starts running. (This helps to reduce client-waiting time when our tanning schedules are full.) When you're ready, simply press the START button on the timer panel. If you are using a sunbed, lie down, pull the sunbed canopy down over you, and relax! If you are tanning in a booth, undress, apply your lotion and eye protection in the changing room, then press the blue START button, step into the tanning booth and close the door. Kick back, and Enjoy!
When your session is complete, the tanning systems shut off automatically, so there is no risk of overexposure. Our tanning consultants will want to know about your experience, and will be happy to address any other questions or concerns you have.
Why tan indoors?
We know that outdoors, we are exposed to a wide range of the sun's UV light, including the most intense rays. Indoor tanning systems do NOT utilize these potentially harmful rays. Tanning indoors also eliminates many environmental factors that are present outdoors, allowing us to carefully control each client's UV exposure and reduce the risk of sunburn. The design of the tanning systems allows the UV light to reach all parts of your body for an even tan.
The indoor tanning industry is at the forefront in educating the public about how to successfully avoid sunburn over the course of one's life. In fact, studies have consistently shown that indoor tanners, once they begin tanning in a professional salon, are up to 81 percent less likely to sunburn than they were before they started tanning indoors.
If I always sunburn outside, can I get a tan indoors?
It may actually be easier for you to get the color you want (brown, not red!) by tanning indoors. To keep you from burning, Hot Shots tanning consultants will start your sessions with a short exposure time, and increase it very gradually. However, if you NEVER tan outdoors, you will not get a tan from tanning lamps, since the UV light they emit is the same as the sun.
How long does it take to get a tan?
While everyone is different, most people will notice results after just a few tanning sessions, but it may take a few weeks of regular tanning (at least three times a week) to get the color you are looking for. If you want to develop a base tan before going on a sunny vacation, you will want to start tanning about three or four weeks before you go.
Why does a tan fade?
Cells in the deeper epidermis layers of the skin are constantly reproducing and pushing older cells upward toward the top layer, where they are sloughed off in about one month. As your skin replaces its cells, the cells laden with melanin (the pigment that produces a tan) are lost. So, the tanning process must continue with the new cells, and therefore, a tan can be maintained only by repeated UV exposures.
Does redness indicate a better tan?
Some people think that if they don't see a slight redness after tanning that they “didn't get anything." The truth is that any amount of redness is actually an indication of sunburn (or erythema) - your skin's worst enemy.
How often can I tan?
You can tan only once in a 24-hour period; pigmentation (tan) and/or erythema (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.
You can achieve excellent results with three or four sessions per week, and maintain your tan with two or three sessions per week. Of course, everyone tans differently, and your daily skin care regimen will affect the life of your tan.
Isn't UV Tanning bad for me?
Many in the medical profession now believe that moderate UV exposure, for those who can develop a tan, is the best way to maximize the benefits, while minimizing the risks of either too little, or too much sun. Heredity, skin type, and other factors, also determine your ability to tan.
New research on breast cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer, shows that regular UV exposure, (which produces Vitamin D) may play a key part in preventing the onset, or retarding the growth of these deadly diseases.
97% of Canadians are Vitamin D deficient mainly because of our geographical position and our mislead practices of total sun avoidance.
What does "Smart Tan" mean?
Being members of the International Smart Tan Network means that our employees have been educated on the anatomy of the skin, how it tans, the risks and benefits of UV exposure, and how to administer proper doses for each skin type.
The goal is to protect you from skin damage, sun burning, and to teach smart tanning practices for both indoor and outdoor UV exposure.
Education helps us elevate our knowledge and approach tanning from a more professional position, for the benefit of each client's skin, and the tanning industry in general.
Can I use my Outdoor Tanning Lotion for indoor tanning?
No. Outdoor tanning products are not suited for indoor exposure, and not allowed, as they can damage and discolour tanning bed surfaces.
Can you guarantee I'll get a tan?
Yes, we guarantee the effectiveness of our equipment. If you can tan outside, you will tan with us, or we will gladly refund your money.
How hygienic is your tanning salon?
Proper cleanliness and hygiene at Hot Shots is of paramount importance to us, and it is one of the reasons our clients keep coming back. We know how vital it is for your comfort level, so we make sure we sanitize all surfaces with hospital strength germicidal cleaner, after each use.
Can I have a UV tan if I'm pregnant?
Tanning while pregnant, in limited doses, is permissible by some doctors provided all precautions are taken not to over heat your body. We strongly recommend you consult your physician, before UV tanning.
What do I wear during a UV tanning session?
You can wear whatever you want. Most people tan naked, in a bathing suit, or underwear. Keep in mind that covered areas will develop tan lines.
If you're tanning naked for the first time, be advised that areas never exposed to the sun will be more sensitive. Start with shorter sessions, to protect these areas from burning.
Can UV exposure help with Seasonal Affectiveness Disorder or SAD?
Light therapy is sometimes used by doctor's to treat patients that suffer from SAD, caused by a lack of sunlight, mainly in winter months, but consult your physician first, before using tanning beds as treatment.
Can tanning beds help with eczema and psoriasis?
UVB can be used in combination with topical creams as a prescribed treatment for some forms of eczema and psoriasis. One form of eczema however, is photo allergic and can greatly worsen with UV exposure.
We strongly recommend you consult your physician before using tanning beds as UV therapy. Don't be afraid to ask your doctor, often they will permit moderate to light exposure from UV tanning beds, for the relief of certain skin conditions.