Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does tanning indoors have the same effect as tanning outdoors?

A: The answer to this question really lies in two parts. First, the vehicle of tanning, whether indoors or outdoors, is ultraviolet light. So while the source that produces ultraviolet rays may be different, the means of tanning is identical. Second, the intended goal, or effect, is the same, but with indoor tanning you have a better chance of getting the exact effect you want. Outdoor tanning uses an uncontrolled environment to achieve the desired effect. You might think of it this way. Tanning can be loosely compared to drinking water. You can quench your thirst with a glass of water. (This would be the equivalent of indoor-controlled tanning.) In some respects, outdoor tanning might be like trying to quench your thirst with a fire hose. You’ll get at least what you want, but the lack of control will probably result in getting far more than you need.

Q: Should I shower after using a bronzer?

A: It would be better if you showered first, and then used the bronzer. The easiest way to make a distinction is to think of bronzers as a form of make-up. Self-tanners can last up to a few days, even with showering, because they produce a chemical reaction in the skin. If you’re after a longer-lasting effect, exfoliate your skin prior to using a self-tanner.

Q: How do medications alter the tanning process? Which types of medicines should I avoid while tanning?

A: Medications and other substances (e.g. dyes used to tattoo the skin, certain foods, etc.) can sensitize a person’s skin to ultraviolet light. The reaction to that sensitivity could either be photoallergic (where the skin reacts to UV exposure by breaking out), or photophobic (where a person must protect his or her eyes from brighter light sources). The most common reaction is photosensitivity. Photosensitivity occurs when the level of UV exposure needed to produce a burn is reduced. So instead of helping someone to tan more easily, photosensitizing agents should be thought of in terms of how easily they cause a person to burn. The best way to determine if a medication has photosensitizing potential is to consult with the prescribing medical practitioner or pharmacist.

Here is a short list. This is not a complete list of everything that could have photosensitizing effects.

Accutane Achromycin Actidil Actifed Adrueil Aldactazide Aldoclor Aldoril Ambenyl Ancobon Apresolene-Esidrix Aquatenson Asendin Azo Gantanol Azo Gantrisin Azulfidine Bactrim Bainetar Barbiturates Benadryl Butazolidin Capoten Cesamet Cipro Clinoril Compazine Danocrine Dapsone Declomycin Deconamine Diabeta Diabinese Dilantin Dimetane Dincardin

Dlulo Diupres Diuril Diutensen-R Dyazide Dyrenium Elavil Endep Enduronyl Esidrix Esimil Estar Gel Etrafon Exna Fansidar Flexeril Folex Fulvicin U/F Gantanol Garamycin Glucotrol Grisactin Haldol Hibiclens Hispril Spansule  Hydromox Hygroton Inderide Intal Inhaler Intron A Lasix Librium Limbitrol Lozol Ludiomil

Marplan Maxzide Mellaril Mepergan Mexate Mexate-AQ Minizide Minocin Moduretic Motrin Mykrox Naquival Naturetin NegGram Neptazane Normozide Noroxin Norpramin Optimine Oreticyl Ornade Spansule Orudis Capsules Pamelor Pediazole Periactin Permitil Pertofrane Phenergan Phisohex Polaramine Prolixin Quindex Quinidine Quinine Rauzide

Renese Ru-Tuss II Capsules Seldane Septra Ser-Ap-Es Serentil Serepasil Sinequan Sparine Stelazine Sumycin Surmontil Tacaryl Taractan Tavist Tegretol Temaril Tenoretic Terramycin Thalitone Thorazine Timolide Tofranil Tolazamide Tolinase Trandate HCT Triaminic TR Vaseretic Vasotec Tablets Velban Vivactil Voltaren Tablets Zaroxolyn

Q: Does shaving remove a tan?

A: The epidermis (uppermost section of skin) replaces itself once every 28 to 30 days. The outermost portion of the epidermis, which is ready to shed, also has melanin. That melanin will tan just like the melanin buried deeper in the epidermis. When a person showers or shaves, it sometimes seems like his or her tanning progress is going backward. However, the loss would have occurred anyway; natural grooming speeded up the process. A person shouldn't get discouraged though. If he or she is tanning, ultraviolet light exposure is generating lots of new melanin that will overcome the loss.

Q: What are the do’s and don’ts of tanning with tattoos?

A: Persons with fresh tattoos have had chemicals injected into their skin that can make that local area very sensitive to UV exposure while the tattoo is still healing. So absolutely don’t allow that area to tan. Either cover it up completely, if possible, or don’t tan at all until the skin has healed. After the skin has healed, do continue moderate protective measures. At this point the chemicals have lost their photosensitivity. The tattoo, though, will begin to lose its brilliancy with exposure to UV, whether that UV comes from indoors or outdoors. So preserve those tattoos by using chapstick or a good sunscreen.

Q: Sometimes after tanning I itch, but I’m not burned. What causes this “itchy” sensation and how can I cure it?

A:  The primary reason(s) for that tanning itch is dry and/or overheated skin. Itching can usually be relieved with a good skin moisturizer. Your favorite tanning lotion manufacturer will have a great product with extra moisturizing ingredients in it. We have lots of moisturizers to choose from!

Q: Why can't outdoor lotions be used with indoor tanning equipment?

A: outdoor tanning lotions ruin tanning acrylic. The same goes for baby oil and other outdated tanning technology. Even if outdoor lotions didn’t ruin tanning acrylic you should still avoid them. If you want a professional result, CopperZone is the place to come. 'Not only do we use professional equipment, the tanning products we carry deliver a professional result.”

A couple of things are happening during the tanning process. First, your body is losing moisture. This is natural, and will take place whether you tan indoors or out. Professional tanning products include high-quality moisturizers that your skin needs to replenish what was lost. Second, despite our tanning equipment’s powerful capabilities, everyone has a natural tanning limitation. Most lack the nutrients skin needs in order to achieve its maximum tanning potential. Professional tanning products provide these. So feed your skin what it’s starving for.

Q: When can a person shower in relation to a tan, before or after, and how much time should a person wait between showering and tanning?

A: There’s no problem with showering just prior to tanning because it clears the skin of any potential barriers that might hinder the tan. Applying a tanning lotion right after a shower will help the lotion absorb more readily into the skin and prepare it for the tan. The exception is with “tingle” lotions —proximity to the tanning session time is a little more critical with those lotions.

Ideally, a person should probably wait a few hours after tanning to take a shower. The reason: Skin takes a while to process the light that it has received into a tan. Taking a shower right after a tan won’t eliminate the tan altogether, but it will minimize the total impact of that individual session

Q: I am confused about the parts of the body that do not contain melanin (lips, soles of feet, etc.). Can these areas burn or not?

A: Lips do burn because there is no protective melanin in them. Be sure to use a lip balm with SPF!Lips, like most of the rest of skin, are made up of four layers. Palms of our hands and soles of the feet have an extra layer of skin just below the epidermis. The skin in these areas is thicker than most of the rest of the body (up to about four times thicker). So while they are not burn proof, palms and soles do have their own added form of protection.

Q: Can I wear my contact lenses while tanning?

A: Yes, unless your eyes are irritated from overuse or some other reason. If they are irritated, the pressure from wearing protective eyewear may further irritate the eye. In that case it would be suggested that tanning be delayed until the eyes have recuperated.

The primary concern with this question is usually moisture. Eyes lose moisture during the tanning process, just like skin does. To prevent any temporary discomfort resulting from dryness, explain to your customers with contacts that they need to use rewetting drops for their eyes either before or after they tan.