How Do Tanning Bulbs Work?
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UV Rays
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Tanning bulbs work by mimicking the rays of the sun. The sun naturally produces and projects UVA, UVB and UVC rays. UVC rays are the most harmful, and tanning bulbs filter out these rays. Instead, they utilize UVA and UVB rays, which are the same types of rays that are produced by the sun and cause the skin to tan. UVB rays start the tanning process by causing the skin to produce excess amounts of melanin. However, UVB rays are the same ones that cause sunburn, so it is best to limit exposure. The UVA rays complete the tanning process over a longer length of time, but they do not cause the burning that is associated with UVB rays.
Bulb Ratings
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Tanning lamp bulbs are generally either rated at 5 or 6.5 percent. While some people believe that the higher number indicates that the bulb will produce a better, darker tan, this is simply an indication of the ratio between UVA and UVB rays produced by the bulb. When a tanning bulb has a 6.5 percent rating, it means that it produces 6.5 percent UVB rays and 93.5 percent UVA. The general rule of thumb is that bulbs that have a lower UVB rating give you a darker tan but require longer to do so, while a higher UVB rating will produce a quicker, lighter tan.
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Colored Bulbs
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You may notice that some facilities utilize multicolored bulbs, and you may wonder if the color of the bulb may impact your tan. Colored bulbs are totally superficial and, while attractive, they serve no greater purpose. Oftentimes tanning salons will utilize these types of bulbs to differentiate between bed types or to simply contribute to the ambiance of the tanning salon.
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