My skin, and why use Sunbed Cream when Tanning?

The skin is the largest multi-functional organ of our body. It has three main layers: the top outer skin (epidermis); the leather skin (corium) and the true skin (subcutis).

Our skin is constantly renewing itself. The cells are forced outward and harden on the surface where eventually they are shed. We develop a new outer skin every four weeks.

Tanning works the same whether outdoors in the natural sunshine, or from using a sunbed. Ultra Violet light penetrates the skin causing different reactions.

UVA rays are sometimes called the tanning rays and the UVB the burning rays because they are more intense than UVA. Sunbeds offer a more balanced exposure to UVA and UVB, emitting more UVA and much less UVB than the sun making it a much preferred option for many people.

Whenever the skin is exposed to UVB light, more melanin (the tanning pigment) is produced by cells, called melanacytes, deep in the epidermis layer of the skin. Melanin is carried through the epidermis to the upper layer of the skin.

UVA light has the effect of oxidising the melanin, tanning the skin in the process. As a natural process the melanin absorbs the UVA light and stops it reaching the deeper, more sensitive layers of the skin. In this way the body's natural defences protect your skin from burning as long as the skin is not over exposed.

It is from this knowledge that the leading manufacturers of Sunbed Cream and Tan Accelerators have developed their products. To achieve a safe a and long lasting tan from Sunbed use, the application of sunbed cream and lotions to condition and protect the skin during the tanning process is essential. The sunbed cream offered on our website provide many benefits, and each cream or lotion will have different ingredients. These will be described in the products contents. To understand the contents each sunbed cream, please refer to our A-Z of terms used.