The 411 on Indoor Tanning
Tanning occurs when the pigment in your skin's top layer, the epidermis, reacts to UV light. About 5% of your epidermis is made up of special cells called melanocytes. When the melanocytes are exposed to Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays they begin to produce melanin – the pigment that is ultimately responsible for tanning your skin.
The pinkish melanin is absorbed by skin cells and travels up through the epidermis. Once high enough, the melanocytes are exposed to Ultraviolet A (UVA) light, causing the melanin to oxidize or darken. This darkening is not only what we call a tan, but also the way your skin was biologically designed to protect itself from too much UV light.
We all have approximately 5 million melanocytes in our body, but genetics dictate how much melanin our body's melanocytes will naturally produce. A general guideline is that the darker your skin type is naturally, the more pigment your melanocytes produce. Skin types range from 1 to 6 – 1 being bright white skin and 6 black skin. Read below to learn more about the six skin types.
How Your Skin Tans:
An important aspect about tanning that most people are unaware of is the importance of knowing what specific skin type you are. In knowing you skin type, this will aid in knowing how you tan or if you can even tan at all. A skin type 1 for example has extremely fair skin and should never risk going outdoors.
To find out what kind of skin type you are take the test here!
The pinkish melanin is absorbed by skin cells and travels up through the epidermis. Once high enough, the melanocytes are exposed to Ultraviolet A (UVA) light, causing the melanin to oxidize or darken. This darkening is not only what we call a tan, but also the way your skin was biologically designed to protect itself from too much UV light.
We all have approximately 5 million melanocytes in our body, but genetics dictate how much melanin our body's melanocytes will naturally produce. A general guideline is that the darker your skin type is naturally, the more pigment your melanocytes produce. Skin types range from 1 to 6 – 1 being bright white skin and 6 black skin. Read below to learn more about the six skin types.
How Your Skin Tans:
An important aspect about tanning that most people are unaware of is the importance of knowing what specific skin type you are. In knowing you skin type, this will aid in knowing how you tan or if you can even tan at all. A skin type 1 for example has extremely fair skin and should never risk going outdoors.
To find out what kind of skin type you are take the test here!