10 Mar Indoor and Outdoor Tanning: Similarities and Differences

Tanning whether done indoors or out is quite a popular and enjoyable activity. Living in one of the cloudiest parts of the U.S. the amount of outdoor tanning for those of us up in Michigan can be a bit of a rarity. Most of us end up getting our dose of UV at tanning salons through tanning beds and units.

Regardless, we figured we’d enlighten our readers and clients a little with a brief guide on indoor and outdoor tanning.

How Tanning Works

Your skin produces a substance called melanin. Melanin is responsible for two things among others. One is skin pigmentation the second, natural UV protection. Genetically, people whose ancestors have lived in sunnier regions have higher natural melanin production.

That being said, unless you’re someone with a condition known as Albinism, your body produces some if not a lot of melanin. Melanin absorbs frequencies of UV light protecting the skin from damage. Increased levels of UV trigger the skin to produce as much melanin as possible in order to match exposure adequately. The result? A tan!

UV Exposure for Tanning

UV exposure is highly essential in order to tan. If it wasn’t, people would get their tans while sitting under a reading lamp. It is the way UV light interacts with the melanin and skin cells that makes it affect particularly unique.

For those in hotter sunnier parts of the world, UV light is present in abundance all day. Even if they work indoors, consistently warm and sunny weather make going for an outdoor tan easy. In cooler cloudier places, however, due to a lack of natural sunlight, if you want that tan, your best option is an indoor tanning salon.

Similarities

Both outdoor and indoor tanning provides adequate UV exposure. Both outdoor and indoor tanning will trigger and enhance melanin production which will result in the pigmentation you’re looking for. Similarly, both indoor and outdoor tanning facilitate vitamin D synthesis.

Last but not least, if done excessively and not done with care, both indoor and outdoor tanning can be damaging!

Differences

There are however a few differences between indoor and outdoor tanning apart from the obvious which is one is done indoors and the other out.

To begin with, when it comes to receiving an even full body tan, indoor tanning stations are usually the better option. This is because they provide consistent UV exposure all around the body. Further, it is harder to miss a spot when you’re using a tanning station or bed.

Secondly, indoor tanning allows you to control and regulate UV exposure. Where the sun might be fun, you’re pretty much at nature’s mercy. A reliable indoor tanning service will likely have professionals who will help you find which settings and time durations work best for. Being able to control UV intensity is a huge plus you won’t have under the sun!

Apart from these and the environment you would get your tan in, the two work pretty much the same!

Upshot

Tanning beds and units are brilliant and allow those living in cooler cloudier places the chance to soak up the UV and get the tans they need! Just remember to always go to the best tanning salon you can find. A reliable place with experienced professionals will ensure your tanning experience is safe and healthy.

If you’re looking for quality tanning salons in Muskegon County because you live there or are just visiting, we run a pretty sweet service and use only the most cutting edge in tanning technology and methods! Swing by if you have the time or give us a shout for more details! Happy tanning folks!