Miami Tans is here to improve your knowledge on proper sun care and the benefits of indoor tanning.

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Basically your skin tans the same indoors as out. Ultraviolet rays penetrate your skin causing different reactions. UVA and UVB are emitted by the sun as well as by our tanning lamps. UVB is commonly referred to as the burning ray because it is more intense than UVA and is responsible for sunburn if the skin is exposed to too much. Our tanning lamps emit more UVA or browning rays and much less UVB than the sun, which is the best tanning combination. Although UVB is responsible for overexposure, it is necessary in acquiring a tan. UVB stimulates melanocyte (pigment cells) in your skin to produce melanin (pigment). The melanin absorbs UVA to keep it from reaching deeper, more sensitive layers, of the skin. UVA oxidizes, or darkens, the melanin forming a tan. This whole process is the body's own natural defense against a sunburn. Many people will say, "My burn turns to a tan". This is a dangerous myth. Tanning and burning are two completely different processes. A burn may heal and disappear at the same time a tan is developing, giving the appearance that the burn is becoming a tan. The tanning process seems to offer protection from sun exposure, while the burn is your bodies' signal that damage is occurring to your skin.   When you get burned, you are actually causing damage to your skin, and repeated damage could lead to some forms of skin cancer. Burning and overexposure can actually make you lose your tan faster due to the peeling of the skin.

“Miami Tans helps me make responsible decisions about tanning.  They're not one of those salons that is just trying to sell, sell, sell.  If I have enough color, or am taking any kind of vitamin that might have an adverse effect when combined with indoor tanning, Miami Tan doesn't just advise me not to tan, they just won't let me.  That shows they really care about me! , NY - Sarah

It is understood that when you start a package in a tanning center, you are eager to see results. Unfortunately, the tanning process is not something that can be rushed. Sometimes, it can take up to several sessions before a noticeable darkening of the skin is evident.   For beginner tanners, initial exposure times in some sunbeds may be as short as six to seven minutes. It may even seem like nothing happened, but remember, it can take up to 48 hours for the process to appear.   After you have started tanning, your session length can be adjusted slowly till you reach the desired level of darkening -but keep in mind, everybody's skin is different.   Always use caution when you are switching from a different salon to Miami Tan. Comparing session times in two different pieces of equipment from two different tanning salons can be like trying to compare apples to oranges.   Often there is a drastic difference even though the beds may look the same. There can be a large variance in the quality of equipment and bulbs from your old salon to here at Miami Tans.   We will always do our best to lead you in the right direction so that you can achieve your desired results according to your skin type.  Trust our judgement and advice, and you will enjoy a safe and satisfying tanning experience with us!

The Tanning Process

The tanning takes place in ,the epidermis which is the skins outer most layer.  About five percent of the cells in your epidermis are special cells called melanocytes. When exposed to ultraviolet "B" light (short wave ultraviolet), melanocytes produce melanin - the pigment which is ultimately responsible for your great tan. The pinkish melanin travels up through the epidermis and is absorbed by other skin cells. When exposed to ultraviolet "A" light (longer wave), the melanin oxidizes or darkens. This darkening is your skin's natural way of protecting itself from excessive UV light.. So a combination of UVA and UVB light will create a tan.

The electromagnetic spectrum

Tanning takes place approximately between 280 nanometres and 320 nanometres

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 colour, while the skin of Caucasians has less melanin and is pale. This is why heredity (your ethnic background) affects your tanning potential.

In order to most effectively avoid overexposure, a tan should be acquired gradually. (according to the guidelines prescribed by your salon professional). A sunburn, or erythema, occurs when too much UVB light reaches the skin and disrupts the tiny blood vessels near the skin's surface. UVA light can cause erythema, but not as likely as UVB will.

Do you know why a tan fades? Cells in the epidermis' germinative layer (also called the living epidermis) are constantly reproducing and pushing older cells upward toward the horny layer (dead epidermis), where they are sloughed off in about one month. As your skin replaces its cells, the cells laden with melanin are removed. So the tanning process must continue with the new cells. Excessive UVB light will also increase your skin's exfolation schedule from 28 days down to as little as 3-5 days. This is why you "peal" when you sunburn outside, you skin is replacing damaged skin with new skin.