As a tanner, you've probably always been curious about exactly how your skin tans. The process is really quite simple, and works the same whether you tan indoors or outdoors. Ultraviolet light is the catalyst, and a pigment in your skin called melanin does the rest.
Here's a layman's description of the entire process: Tanning takes place in the skin's outermost layer,the epidermis. About five percent of the cells in your epidermis are special cells called melanocytes. When exposed to ultraviolet B light (short wave ultraviolet), melanocytes produce melanin-the pigment which is ultimately responsible for your tan. The pinkish melanin travels up through the epidermis and is absorbed by other skin cells. When exposed to ultraviolet A light (longer wave), the melanin oxidizes or darkens. This darkening is your skin's way of protecting itself against too much UV light.
Everyone has the same number of melanocytes in their body, about five million. But your heredity dictates how much melanin your body's melanocytes naturally will produce. For example, the skin of African-Americans contains enough melanin to create a black or brown skin color, while the skin of Caucasians has less melanin and is pale.
In order to most effectively avoid overexposure, a tan should be acquired gradually, according to the guidelines prescribed by your salon professional. A sunburn, or erythema, occurs when too much ultraviolet light reaches the skin and disrupts the tiny blood vessels near the skin's surface.
Why does a tan fade? Cells in the epidermis' germinative layer (also called the living epidermis) are constantly reproducing and pushing older cells upward toward the horny layer (dead epidermis), where they are sloughed off in about one month. As your skin replaces its cells, the cells laden with melanin are removed. So the tanning process must continue with the new cells.
Please contact The Tanning Co. with any questions. All tanning units are on a Walk-in basis. Spray Tanning is by Appointment please contact us for appointment or consultation. Thank you
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Salon Hours
Monday
7:30am - 10pm
Tuesday
7:30am - 10pm
Wednesday
7:30am - 10pm
Thursday
7:30am - 10pm
Friday
7:30am - 10pm
Saturday
10am - 6pm
Sunday
1pm - 6pm
Locaion hours may vary by salon
The Tanning Co. -
4957 North Lee Hwy -
Cleveland,
TN37312,
USA -
423 476 3535
Here's a layman's description of the entire process: Tanning takes place in the skin's outermost layer,the epidermis. About five percent of the cells in your epidermis are special cells called melanocytes. When exposed to ultraviolet B light (short wave ultraviolet), melanocytes produce melanin-the pigment which is ultimately responsible for your tan. The pinkish melanin travels up through the epidermis and is absorbed by other skin cells. When exposed to ultraviolet A light (longer wave), the melanin oxidizes or darkens. This darkening is your skin's way of protecting itself against too much UV light.