UV Light/Summer Sun/Tanning
Sun Burns . . . Why it happens:
When UV rays reach your skin, they damage cells in the epidermis. Your immune system increases blood flow to the affected areas. The increased blood flow is what gives sunburn its red tint and makes the skin feel warm to the touch. At the same time, the damaged skin
cells release chemicals that send messages through the body until they are translated as
a painful burning sensation by the brain. White blood cells, which help protect you from
infection and disease, attack and remove the damaged skin cells. It is this process of removing damaged cells that can cause sunburned skin to itch and peel.
Tanning with the Sun vs a Bed........Tanning outdoors
It is more difficult to tan safely outdoors than it is to tan indoors. When you tan outdoors
you cannot control the outdoor elements. Hazy overcast days usually have more water
vapor in the atmosphere and the sun rays can fool you and be more intense than you think.
On a clear day the UV rays are composed of direct and scattered radiation. The sky looks blue because the blue rays from sunlight are highly scattered by the atmosphere. This can lead to an increase in a person's exposure to the sun.
The sun is closer on some days than others depending on what time of year it is and what
latitude you live in. The UV rays are more intense around the noon time for around a 4 hour
time span. Ground reflection is another concern. UV rays can reflect off of ground objects
as well as water. This makes UV rays more intense than just regular exposure to them.
Tanning Indoors......
When tanning indoors someone may regulate your tanning time and you know exactly how much
UV light you will be receiving based on your skin type.
Indoor tanning can be healthy used in moderate doses. Sunlight, in fact, has many positive effects on the body, and medical science is still making many new discoveries in this area.
Ultraviolet light stimulates the production of vitamin D, for example, and doctors often
prescribe tanning sessions for people with psoriasis, osteoporosis, and other diseases. In
northern climates, regular tanning sessions may help ward off the winter blues, or
“cabin fever.” In any environment or season, a dose of controlled ultraviolet light may lift
the spirits and help people with mood disorders or depressive tendencies. Occasional tanning
sessions can be beneficial even if your goal is not to have a deep, dark tan.
For a deeper, darker, longer lasting tan, you need to use quality indoor tanning lotion.
It's best to apply indoor tanning lotion immediately prior to your session or 1-2 hours prior
is even better if you can. Applying it ahead of time allows your skin to absorb the lotion
better so you will get the best results from your tanning session.
Why you should always use a good quality indoor tanning lotion:
It will help your skin to absorb the UV, which will aid in the tanning process. 
There are also special ingredients that stimulate melanin production, such as Tyrosine,
which will give you the most out of every tanning session. Your skin tends to dry out during the tanning process and if you don't use a good quality
indoor tanning lotion, your skin will exfoliate faster, become more dry and flaky, and you
will lose your tan faster.
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