FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS


 

· How long has Mimi's been in business?

Mimi's Tanning Shak has been in business since 1994 and is one of the most successful tanning salons in Eastern Wake County. You can have the confidence of knowing we will be there for you. 

·What does the quality of the tanning equipment have to do with my tan?

How well a bed tans depends on the quality of the components inside the bed and how well it has been maintained. There are major differences in lamps from brands to watts..  How often a bed is taken apart and cleaned and how often the lamps and acrylics are changed make all the difference in the quality of tan you receive.  You can not see it by just looking at the bed, but acrylics get yellow and cloudy with use and this prevents the rays from the lamps from coming through to the best possible potential. 

    · I am new to tanning, is there any precautions I should be aware of?
 YES!
    1.  Don't try to rush your tan...it should be obtained gradually
    2.  Gradually increase your exposure time, 1 to 2 minutes at a time.  Remember it is not a race to 20 minutes!
    3.  Consult your physician if you are taking ANY medication.  Some medication can cause extra sensitivity to the UV light, causing over-exposure.
    4.  Always wear protective eyewear! 
    5.  No question is a dumb question, if you have a question or concern remember that is what we are here for!
 

· How often should I tan?

Since 1986, the Food and Drug Administration guidelines suggest that a 48-hour should pass between tanning sessions. Pigmentation and/or erythema (sunburn) may not be fully visible for between 12-24 hours. Thus two tanning sessions within this 24-hour period could cause an unintentional burn. In general, maximum pigmentation can be built up gradually, following the exposure schedule.

· What should I wear while tanning?

Some people wear their bathing suits, just as they would at the beach. But, because of the privacy provided by indoor tanning, most people tan in the nude to avoid tan lines. If you tan nude areas not normally exposed may be sensitive, especially when building your base. You should cover these areas for a portion of your session and allow gradual exposure. You should remember to remove all objects, including jewelry, which will cause unwanted tan lines, and could scratch the acrylic.

Exposure to UVB from sunshine is the body’s natural way to produce vitamin D, accounting for 90 percent of vitamin D production. Dietary “supplements” are just that: Supplemental ways to produce vitamin D.

Research has shown that people who utilize indoor tanning equipment that emits UVB – which most tanning equipment does – also produce vitamin D. And studies have also shown that indoor tanning clients have higher vitamin D blood levels than non-tanners.

While the North American indoor tanning industry promotes itself as a cosmetic service, one undeniable side-effect of that cosmetic service is vitamin D production. Even though it is not necessary to develop a tan to produce vitamin D, this should be considered: Because research suggests that the risks associated with sun exposure are related to intermittent sunburns, it is credible to believe that the benefits of regular, moderate non-burning exposure outweigh the easily manageable risks associated with overexposure.

2. Indoor tanning and acne?

Photo therapy (or use of UV light) has been effective in easing the skin problems common to this condition. There are also many drugs, including tetracycline and Retin-A, which are also widely used for treatment of acne. Because these drugs can render the skin photosensitive, one must avoid UV exposure when medicated. Furthermore, a qualified physician should only administer the use of UV light for acne treatment.

   3. Indoor tanning equipment and psoriasis?

Photo therapy (or UV light treatment) can be used to ease the symptoms of psoriasis. A trained physician should render the treatment with equipment specifically designed for such a purpose. Many salon operators report that customers who suffer mild forms of psoriasis improve after indoor tanning, but treatment should be left to qualified professionals.

    4.Indoor tanning and depression or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?

There exists a growing body of scientific evidence, which indicates that some people actually require more light exposure in order to function properly. Exposure to bright light, such as that emitted by the mid-day summer sun, causes the brain to suppress the release of the hormone melatonin. Melatonin acts as a depressant in the body if generated during the daytime. Thus, when affected people are exposed to longer hours of bright light, they feel happier, euphoric and more able to enjoy life. Bright light sources emitting only visible light are now frequently used to successfully treat Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and Sub-syndrome Seasonal Affective Disorder (SSAD). Just like with psoriasis, treatment should be left to trained medical professionals.

·What about Teenagers and Tanning?

In the past few years the dermatology industry’s lobbyists have argued that teenagers should be totally prohibited from tanning in salons despite having no solid evidence that tanning in a non-burning fashion results in any significant risk. In fact, such prohibitions would likely do more harm than good.
 Consider:

1. Studies have shown that teens who tan in salons are less likely to sunburn outdoors compared to non-tanners.

2. 3 percent of teenagers who tan indoors prior to taking sunny vacations report that their indoor tan, combined with the proper use of sunscreen, helped them to prevent sunburn.

3. Further, 72 percent of teenagers who currently tan indoors say they would simply tan more aggressively outdoors or purchase home tanning units – both of which are more likely to produce sunburns – if they were unable to utilize indoor tanning salons. If teenagers are unable to tan in salons, sunburn incidence actually will increase, and it is likely that total UV exposure in this age group will increase. This would be hurting people, not helping them.

4. There is no data to suggest that tanning is more dangerous for any specific age group. Photobiology suggests that burning (not tanning) at an early age could increase risk later in life. As we just discussed, it appears that indoor tanners sunburn less than non-tanners, including teen-agers who tan outdoors.

5. Indoor tanning facilities today are at the forefront in teaching teenagers outdoor sunburn prevention, including the proper use of sunscreens to prevent sunburn outdoors. If teenagers are denied access to indoor tanning, sunburn incidence will increase.

How old do I have to be to tan without my parent's consent?

Eighteen or older.  NC State law requires signed parental permission for anyone under 18 years of age.  Anyone under 16 must have a parent or legal guardian present with them to sign the Release Form before tanning the first time in our salon. After signing the Release, parents do not need to be present on subsequent visits. We will not accept notes from home, phone calls or parents of friends or other relatives to sign for them as we cannot verify their authenticity.

· What causes white spots?

There are several reasons why white spots become noticeable on the body once the tanning process begins. 
    1. Pressure Points
One possible cause of white spots from tanning is simply from pressure points. People relate tanning to relaxing and thus remaining still. So inevitably, their bodies will rest on pressure points where their circulation will be reduced. Locations such your hip bones and shoulder blades tend to develop these sorts of white spots from tanning most often. I suggest rotating and moving more during your tanning.

    2. Medications
Another common cause of tanning white spots can be from a mix of certain medications and the sun. White spots from tanning can be created by reactions your skin may have to UV light exposure while taking certain medications. The medications can make your skin more sensitive and vulnerable, thus causing unexpected results when exposed to the UV rays of sunlight or tanning beds. Two of the most common drugs (although there are many) which may cause white spots from tanning are birth control pills and antibiotics (especially tetracycline). You will sometimes see this side-effect described as skin photosensitivity. If you regularly tan or you might be in a place where you will likely experience sunlight exposure, let your doctor know when he or she prescribes you a drug you haven’t taken before.
    3. Fungal Infections
A third cause for white spots from tanning are fungal infections on the skin. This may sound unpleasant, but it is probably more common than you realize. One fungal infection of the skin that can cause white spots is tinea versicolor.  This fungus did not appear as a result of tanning; it merely becomes noticeable once tanning occurs.  The fungal infection often affect the face, back, chest, neck or upper arms.  The skin fungus is often barely visible. It usually isn’t contagious, and it is caused simply by the combination of perspiration, humidity, oily skin and/or persistent heat on the skin. The fungus blocks UV rays from pigmenting your skin in irregular patterns, so it appears as white blotches. In most cases, this can be addressed with simple anti-fungal medications, either over-the-counter creams (like Halt sold at Mimi's) or prescription creams or pills. Some people even have some success with ant-fungal shampoos.
    4.  Skin Pigmentation
Our last common cause for white spots from tanning is simply skin pigmentation. For some individuals there is a genetic predisposition causing the skin to pigment in an inconsistent manner. Some individuals have areas of skin cells which don’t produce melanin so these areas don’t change pigmentation when exposed to UV rays.  Some spray tanning sysstem may help you blend these spots into the rest of your tan.  Ask about JWOWW Sunless Spray by Australian Gold.

While I hope this helps better inform you on the causes of white spots and tanning, please remember that you should always consult a medical professional before settling on your own diagnosis and treatment.

    Sometimes, I notice a strange smell after I tan, what is that?

· Is Indoor Tanning the same as tanning outdoors?

The key difference between indoor and outdoor sun exposure is that indoor tanning takes place in a highly controlled environment-the lamp's light spectrum produces a consistent and controlled amount of ultraviolet light. Unlike outdoor sun, you always know how much ultraviolet light you receive.

Today, all sun-beds and tanning booths used in salons are regulated by the F.D.A as Class II Medical Devices. This means you only get a standardized amount of UV exposure with a mixture of both UVB and UVA rays designed to minimize burning.

The tanning process and the energy produced from indoor and outdoor tanning are the same, but the light spectra are different. In most U.S. made equipment, indoor tanning relies on lamps that emulate a light spectrum similar to that of the sun.

Other benefits that differentiate indoor tanning from outdoor exposure are convenience, privacy, relaxation, and control of environment (i.e. elimination of the dust, chemicals, and other particles present in the outdoor air.) Indoor tanning eliminates variables such as season, time of day, reflection, and atmospheric conditions.

Another difference between indoor and outdoor tanning is that indoor exposure programs can be tailored to individual needs with regard to skin type and previous exposure experience. The controlled environment and the ability to time your UV exposure to the minute makes burning less likely with a tanning bed than with outdoor sun exposure.

Tanning Myths

Did you know the media is constantly fed many inaccuracies about the indoor tanning industry?  Here are some of the tanning myths recently promoted.  Some of the myths are new; some are old-nonetheless, all are inaccurate.

Myth 1: Indoor tanning is safer than exposure to natural sunlight.

The Food and Drug Administration uses 21 CFR 1040.20 to regulate the indoor tanning industry and forbids health claims such as "safe", "safer than the sun", etc. Claims like these also are monitored by the Federal Trade Commission. That being said, indoor tanning delivers controlled exposure by skin type and a timer system that minimizes the risk of erythema or sunburn. Natural sunlight offers no such control and there is certainly the likelihood of sunburn.

Myth 2: Tanning beds are 15 times stronger than natural sunlight.

This claim actually varies according to different sources25 times stronger, 50, 100, etc. Some substitute the phrase "typical solar radiation" or "noon- time" sun. All are incorrect. What specific sunlight are they referring to? What city offers typical solar radiation? UV intensity is affected by factors such as time of year, time of day, cloud cover, pollutants, proximity to the equator and reflective surfaces. The suns intensity is certainly stronger in Miami at noon on a clear day in July versus a cloudy day in Montreal at 3 p.m.

Myth 3: Properly using an SPF will keep me from getting skin cancer.

There is now an interesting development going on here. Certainly, proper use of a sunscreen with SPF can help with the prevention of sunburn, but studies show that the chemicals in sunscreen with SPF actually may lead to skin cancer. In the Free Radical Biology & Medicine journal, scientists at the University of California report that some of the chemicals found in sunscreen products can become cancer-causing agents once they are absorbed into the skin. Perhaps this is why more and more people are developing skin cancer, despite the increasing use of sun lotions.

"Sunscreens may be doing more harm than good," says lead researcher Dr. Kerry Hanson. "Combine this with the fact that some people actually will stay in the sun longer and may suffer from overexposure because they feel that they are completely protected by SPF products and you have a confusing issue."

Myth 4: Tanning while pregnant will cook the baby.

There is no current scientific and/or biological reason why a pregnant woman cannot tan. In fact, some researchers believe the productions of vitamin D caused by exposure to UVB may be beneficial to both the mother and fetus.

It is important to note that indoor tanning equipment utilizing either primarily UVA (as in high-pressure tanning equipment) or UVA and UVB (as in low-pressure products) penetrate the layers of the epidermis, dermis, and in some cases, the subcutaneous layer of the skin. It does not however, have sufficient energy to penetrate any further. UV tanning rays do not penetrate to a depth that would directly affect a fetus. However, there is some concern that the heat build-up, which inevitably occurs when tanning indoors and outdoors, may adversely affect some pregnant women, just as a sauna or Jacuzzi might.

One of the biggest concerns regarding tanning and pregnancy lies with the possibility of dehydration or overheating, which is referred to medically as hyperthermia. In the initial stages of pregnancy, there are certain studies that have linked extreme hyperthermia to birth defects including heart problems, abdominal-wall defects and problems with the development of the nervous system.

Most of these problems are rare, have not been linked to indoor tanning and only have been associated with prolonged exposure to temperatures of 102 degrees Fahrenheit or more for several hours in the early stages of pregnancy. Fortunately, regulatory standards typically limit the maximum temperature for commercial tanning devices to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. As a rule, in the later stages of pregnancy, most doctors report that a normal fetus is less sensitive to heat, although caution should still be exercised.

When considering the heat generated by tanning devices and pregnancy, common sense plays an important role. Pregnant women who decide to tan should be sure and stay well-hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids. Whether a consumer is pregnant or not, when a person starts to feel uncomfortable from the heat, it is time to end the tanning session.

Here at Mimi's we recommend that pregnant women consult their physician before tanning indoors or outdoors.  If the ok is given we like to keep the tanning sessions to 10 minutes and under.

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Information given on this website is for consumer education only.  It is not meant to replace the advice of a qualified health care professional.