Don Smith

FYI To Ask Don's Army:

Although this website is my "home base", I often answer questions on other websites. Listed below is an answer I recently gave to a question on another website that I thought might be of interest.

Don

George:

Good answer, you were on the right road!

Toronto:

Keep in mind that there are two things that are required to develop facultative pigmentation (better known as a "tan").

1. An adequate, continuous supply of eumelanosomes (the "brown/black" melanin granules). Pheomelanosomes (the "red/yellow" melanin granules) play a minimal role in the tanning process. [FYI, in a 1980 paper the authors referred to melanin granules as " microscopic melanin dust particles" and this term helped me to better understand and explain how small they are.]

2. Enough "tanning photons" (packets of light energy) to oxidize the melanosomes.

Next, keep in mind that melanosomes (eumelanosomes and pheomelanosomes) are stimulated primarily by the "shorter" wavelengths, primarily the UVB (280 - 320 nm) wavelengths (and vitamin D production is stimulated by the 290 - 315 nm wavelengths).

Also, keep in mind that the melanosomes are "oxidized" (creating the "tan") primarily by the "longer" UVA1 (340 - 400 nm) wavelengths (there is enough energy out to 434 nm to oxidize melanin which is, as you know, in the "visible" (400 - 700 nm) wavelength range).

Now, let's take a look at the "difference" between "Low Pressure" (tube type) and "HID/hp (High Intensity Discharge/high pressure) type tanning systems.

1. Low pressure (tube type) systems typically have 3-5 percent UVB while "traditional" HID/hp systems typically have approximately 0.5-1.0 percent UVB (although some of the "new era" systems have 2.6 - 2.9 percent UVB). Thus, these "traditional" systems do not have enough "power" in the UVB range to stimulate the production of "enough" melanosomes (and vitamin D) to tan adequately, hence the "plateau" you mention.

2. HID/hp systems have more UVA1 "tanning" photons ( 4-5 times as many) than do 160 watt (reflector) low pressure systems and many more (8-10 times as many) than do "entry level" 100 watt (non-reflector) systems.

Thus, low pressure systems are better for the production of melanosomes (and vitamin D) and "traditional" HID/hp systems are better at oxidizing melanosomes and creating a tan.

Therefore, in order to eliminate the "peaking" you mentioned, rotate your HID/hp clients through a low pressure sunbed two to three days before they are scheduled for a HID/hp session and they will have the best of both worlds! [FYI, we recommend the use of a ten-minute high UVB sunbed prior to the use of our HID/hp system.]

So here is the non-technical way I explain the technical differences between HID/hp and LP tanning systems to our clients and help them understand that the different systems are complementary, not competitive.

I point out (using the Smart Tan skin picture) that the shorter (UVB) wavelengths produce the "melanin dust" that are necessary to create a tan and that the "tube type" systems are better at doing so. I make sure that they understand that there you must have an adequate, continuous supply of melanin dust in order to develop a deep, dark and long lasting tan.

Then I point out that HID/hp systems are better able to "oxidize" more of the melanin dust particles because of the increased number of tanning photons (clients LOVE the word "photons" and it makes it sound like you know what you are talking about! LOL) and because they "penetrate" more deeply into the skin which allows them to oxidize the melanin dust migrating downward as well as the melanin dust migrating upward.

I point out that 160 watt "upgrade" systems also have more "tanning photons" than do our entry level sunbeds and this is why it is worth the extra money to tan in these sunbeds and booths.

Once you get the "hang" of it, it is very easy to "splain" to your clients why (1) they should rotate through both low pressure and HID/hp sunbeds, and, (2) why it "pays" to upgrade to high performance (HID/hp and high intensity) sunbeds.

[Note 1: Both the "new era" HID/hp sytems and the "hybrid" (systems containing both low pressure and HID/hp sunlamps) have the ability to both stimulate the production of melanosomes and to oxidize more melanin BUT it comes at the price of reducing your "margin" between the time to burn and the time to tan. When you are dealing with "sunburning irradiance" power, there is no free lunch. LOL]

[Note 2: There are also some fascinating things that take place in the HID/hp "quartz tube" over the session time that we have recently learned that help to explain why "traditional" HID/hp systems are not as capable of stimulating the production of melanosomes (and vitamin D) but that is a topic for another day.]

I hope this information answers your question satisfactorily.

Don

neon

I was going to ask for advise today on how to explain the benefits of an "upgrade" to customers. Thank you once again.