The Science Of Skin Typing

Being able to quickly and accurately identify the various skin types is crucial for the longevity of any indoor tanning facility. Every tanner should be skin typed and recorded, either in a computer file or card file for easy reference. The tanner also should be asked about any medications he or she may be taking and directed to the list of photosensitizing agents posted in the salon.

Skin typing will help tanners know how many sessions it will take to establish a base tan and how long they can be in the tanning unit without experiencing an uncomfortable and unnecessary sunburn. Remember, skin type determines the amount of natural protection a person has against ultraviolet light.

Because of the variety of people with different genetic backgrounds, dermatologists categorize humans into six different skin types, starting from lightest and working up to darkest. Fair skin burns easily and produces little tan because it has little natural protection. Dark skin tans more easily and burns less because it has more natural protection. Therefore, lighter shades should tan for relatively short time periods, while darker shades may tan for more extended periods of time. However, for liability reasons no one should be allowed to exceed the maximum exposure time posted on the unit, no matter how dark his or her skin tone. The Skin Typing Chart below outlines the six classes of skin types. This formula is only one variable in the entire tanning equation. It is a common misconception that because indoor tanning equipment is designed to produce a fast tan without burning, tanning for a longer period of time will generate a faster tan. The reality is that the best tanning performance will be achieved by adhering to the maximum recommended exposure time of the individual tanning unit.

Food and Drug Administration standards require equipment manufacturers to provide an exposure schedule with the product warning label. The exposure schedule allows a user to gradually build a tan and maintain it while controlling the risk of acute injury and delayed adverse effects. Because the UV dose that causes a barely discernible pink coloration on the skin is not the same for everyone, the exposure schedule for the first-time user will depend on his or her skin type.

In addition to preventing burns from overexposure to UV light, the formula marks the point at which tanning takes place most efficiently. After this point, the degree of tanning is lessened or even reversed. Even if the tanner already has a substantial base tan, overexposure mostly produces a thickening of the outer layer of skin, which does not tan. Overexposure in a single session may damage the tanning response so that less pigment is produced instead of more.

Because the output of different tanning lamps varies, so will the exposure times of different tanning units. In particular, reflector and high-pressure tanning lamps will have shorter recommended exposure times. But because they are derived from the levels of UV light that the unit produces, they should be respected.