Tahiti Tan

Learn More About Tanning

What is Melanin?

A dark brown to black pigment occuring in the hair, skin, and iris of the eye in people and animals.  The more melanin you have, the darker your skin is.

UVB vs UVA

UVB rays are commonly referred to as “base building” rays because they stimulate the production of melanin in your skin creating a base tan.  The more melanin you have, the darker you become.  This base tan helps protect your skin from burning when you’re outside under the hot sun by acting as a barrier and diffusing additional UVB rays to prevent sunburn.  Sunburn is caused by overproduction of melanin.

UVA rays are generally known as “bronzing” rays.  The UVA rays darken the color of the existing melanin in your skin, thus giving you a darker and more bronze appearance, hence the name bronzing rays.  These rays penetrate deeper than UVB rays and produce a deeper and longer lasting tan.

​​Low Pressure vs High Pressure

Base building and bronzing beds are going to be considered low pressure (LP) beds.  They emit both UVA and UVB rays, but at different levels depending on the particular lamp and/or bed.

High pressure (HP) beds emit 95% or more UVA rays and minimal UVB rays, therefore reducing the risk of burning.  These beds offer a deeper tan and require very little maintenance.   Typically you can tan once a week for a month and then just twice a month to maintain your tan.  If you are tanning to build a base tan to prevent burning in the sun, you will still need to occasionally tan in a LP bed.

Short Version

  • Melanin- Pigment in your skin that makes you appear tan.  Your body’s natural sunscreen.
  • UVB– Builds your base tan and helps build tolerance to the sun to minimize burning
  • UVA– Darkens the melanin already present in your skin
  • Low Pressure Beds– Use both UVA & UVB rays to produce and darken Melanin
  • High Pressure Beds– These beds offer a deeper tan that requires very little maintenance and are nearly all UVA rays.