Indoor tanning products as coupling agent between UV and your skin.

Soakinuptherays · 04-26-2002, 06:17 AM

New reaserch papers dealing with the FDA and sunscreens have provoked a thought. The presentation makes some experts think that indoor tanning products may work as a coupling device that help the UV rays interact with the skin.

This would seem right, Sonograms require gel to transfer the sound waves to the body to see the image. EKG’s need lotions to have the pads read the electrical responses from the heart.

For those tanners that have resisted every reason to buy indoor tanning products, try using this reason to use indoor tanning products. Tell me how this is received.

Don,

I would like your comments on this.

Don Smith · 04-26-2002, 08:11 AM

Greg:

That's why we tell our clients that using ANY "approved" lotion is better than using no lotion!

What happens is that the use of a tanning lotion before tanning (1) rehydrates the stateum corneum, and, (2) changes the "refractive index" of the skin. Both of these "effects" (working in tandem) make it possible for the "transmission" of 30 - 40% MORE UVR into the skin.

Think of it this way. In a 20 minute MTI (maximum timer interval) sunbed, the use of a lotion gives you the "equivalent" of tanning for 26 - 28 minutes!

My favorite "example" is to "relate" what happens to the use of a "coupling agent" when doing an EKG (to measure heart function). You will not get a good EKG reading if you do not use a "coupling agent" and the same thing is true with tanning, i.e., you won't get as good of a tan if you don't use a lotion before tanning.

BTW, both of these effects take place virtually immediately to condition the skin.

So, are there other benefits of using a tanning lotion. Yes, but manufacturers can't "claim" them because if they did it would mean "admitting" that transdermal penetration had occured and a tanning lotion would then be "classified" as a drug by FDA (and double or triple the price).

Good observation!

Don

Mori · 04-26-2002, 08:40 AM

I like to explain that if you look under a microscope at dry skin you will see what looks like a landscape of plates angled on top of each other in all directions reflecting the light away from the skin. Moisturizing "smoothes" out the surface allowing 20-30% more light to get to the skin. Analogies abound but it is essential the however you can get the message across, get the message across.

04-26-2002, 06:17 AM	#1 (permalink)
Soakinuptherays I love Derf!! Join Date: Oct 19 2000 Location: Tampa, Florida Posts: 1,454 Rep Power: 8	New reaserch papers dealing with the FDA and sunscreens have provoked a thought. The presentation makes some experts think that indoor tanning products may work as a coupling device that help the UV rays interact with the skin. This would seem right, Sonograms require gel to transfer the sound waves to the body to see the image. EKG’s need lotions to have the pads read the electrical responses from the heart. For those tanners that have resisted every reason to buy indoor tanning products, try using this reason to use indoor tanning products. Tell me how this is received. Don, I would like your comments on this.

04-26-2002, 08:11 AM	#2 (permalink)
Don Smith Join Date: Feb 25 2000 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 1,597 Rep Power: 10	Greg: That's why we tell our clients that using ANY "approved" lotion is better than using no lotion! What happens is that the use of a tanning lotion before tanning (1) rehydrates the stateum corneum, and, (2) changes the "refractive index" of the skin. Both of these "effects" (working in tandem) make it possible for the "transmission" of 30 - 40% MORE UVR into the skin. Think of it this way. In a 20 minute MTI (maximum timer interval) sunbed, the use of a lotion gives you the "equivalent" of tanning for 26 - 28 minutes! My favorite "example" is to "relate" what happens to the use of a "coupling agent" when doing an EKG (to measure heart function). You will not get a good EKG reading if you do not use a "coupling agent" and the same thing is true with tanning, i.e., you won't get as good of a tan if you don't use a lotion before tanning. BTW, both of these effects take place virtually immediately to condition the skin. So, are there other benefits of using a tanning lotion. Yes, but manufacturers can't "claim" them because if they did it would mean "admitting" that transdermal penetration had occured and a tanning lotion would then be "classified" as a drug by FDA (and double or triple the price). Good observation! Don

04-26-2002, 08:40 AM	#3 (permalink)
Mori Waiting Confirmation Join Date: Apr 23 2002 Posts: 247 Rep Power: 0	I like to explain that if you look under a microscope at dry skin you will see what looks like a landscape of plates angled on top of each other in all directions reflecting the light away from the skin. Moisturizing "smoothes" out the surface allowing 20-30% more light to get to the skin. Analogies abound but it is essential the however you can get the message across, get the message across.

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