Metro Tan

This somewhat depends on what strength bed you use. Various tanning beds have stronger or weaker bulbs and require fewer or more visits. However, generally speaking, it usually only takes one to three sessions per week to maintain your tan. The average tanning session is usually 15 minutes long, although some customers choose to go the full 20 minutes once their base tan is achieved.

What is “Moderate” Tanning?

Tanning that is moderate for one person may not be moderate for another. Everyone’s skin is different. But the bottom line is what could be called “The Golden Rule of Smart Tanning” – Don’t EVER sunburn! A fair-skinned, freckled, red-headed person may not have the ability to develop a tan without sunburning. In that case, the person should not attempt to tan! Moderate tanning for them would be NO attempt to tan. Of course, this is not the case for most people. Most of us DO have the ability to develop a tan, and many of us tan very easily. Still, we would want to avoid over exposure and sun burning our skin at ALL costs. Avoiding this will require a different approach from person to person depending on their particular skin type. At Metro Tan, our Tanning Consultants will help you to access your skin type and will make recommendations accordingly as to which products and which tanning processes would work best for you.

Some medications cause your skin to be especially sensitive to UV light. These are called photosensitizing medications. If you are taking any prescription medications, ask your doctor if it is safe for you to tan.

If it is not safe for you to tan, our UV-free instant airbrush tan is a great alternative. Here is a partial list of medications known to heighten your sensitivity to UV light. If you are currently taking one of the medications below you may be more susceptible to sunburn, rash or other complications. Please consult a doctor before tanning if you are taking ANY medication:

For 2 main reason: To help maximize the results of your tanning experience, and for healthy, safe tanning.

Maximize the results of your tanning experience -

The various lines of lotions that Metro Tan carries have been created especially for use in our indoor tanning booths and will keep your skin hydrated and healthy. Healthy skin will tan more easily and hold on to that beautiful tan longer. Also, many indoor tanning lotions contain ingredients that will actually help your skin to produce a better tan. This is because of two things: Number 1- they can encourage your body to produce more melanin. The lotions achieve this by containing an ingredient called L-Tyrosine. When you are exposed to ultraviolet light, your melanocyte cells start to absorb this L-tyrosine and will actually produce more melanin. When this melanin oxidizes, it turns brown. So having more melanin being produced by your body will get you more tan. Number 2- The lotions are specifically formulated to help to smooth the surface layers of the skin to allow greater UV penetration for improved tanning results.

Healthy Safe Tanning-

When you are tanning, you start sweating. Sweating this moisture out of your skin will also cause your skin to become dry. Most indoor tanning lotions have moisturizers that are specially designed to keep your skin moisturized even while tanning, and help to restore some of the lost moisture due to perspiration. Also, some of the lotions actually contain certain amounts of sunscreen. The sunscreen will provide a barrier against many of the UV rays and prevent any accidental over exposure and burning to occur. You will still be able to build a beautiful, even tan, although it may take a little longer than using a lotion with no sunscreen.

This depends on your particular skin type, and on how regular you are with your sessions. But you will see results after your very first visit. It usually takes 4 to 5 sessions spread out over a 10-day period to get a base tan.

When most people think of our body's organs, we think of the heart, liver or kidneys. The truth is that your body's largest, most active organ is your skin. It's a complex organ made up of the epidermis, (outer layer) and the dermis (the inner layer). The dermis is where the roots of your body hair follicles start, as well as your sweat glands and nerve endings. Tanning takes place in the skin’s epidermis, within special cells called melanocytes.