Skin Types & Tanning

One of the first things the novice tanner should determine is their skin type. Medical experts have identified six skin types. Pick the one that fits you from the following list provided by the International Smart Tan Network.

Skin Type I

Burns easily and rarely tans. These people most likely have bright white skin, blue or green eyes and freckles, which usually reveals an English, Irish or Scottish heritage. People with Type 1 skin should not tan indoors or outdoors. Their skin is unable to produce significant amounts of melanin to protect them from sunburns that can lead to skin damage.

Skin Type II

Can tan, but still susceptible to sunburn. Common traits include brown or blue eyes, red or blond hair and freckles. Heritage usually is English, Scottish or Scandanavian. Type II tanners should be cautious and take any precautions to avoid sunburn.

Skin Type III

Tans easily, but still susceptible to moderate sunburns. The most common skin type in America. These people often have brown eyes, dark hair and Central European heritage.

Skin Type IV

Tans easily and almost never burns. These people often have dark eyes, dark hair and Mediterranean, Oriental or Hispanic heritage.

Skin Type V

Rarely burns and tans easily. These people have dark hair and eyes and are of Indian, American Indian, Hispanic or African descent.

Skin Type VI

Can tan despite their black skin. Never sunburns. They usually have dark hair and are Africans, African-American or Aborigines.

Once you have established your skin type you are ready to begin the tanning process. Basically, when the melanocytes in your skin are exposed to UVB they produce melanin that travels to the surface. The melanin is then exposed to UVA, which oxidizes, giving your skin a brown color or a tan. The amount of time it takes to get a tan depends on your skin type. The "fairer" you are, the longer it takes to build a base tan. Patience is the key word as you must start with a low amount of time in the tanning bed and build little layers at a time. If you get "pink" or "red," you've done too much time. Never sunburn. This aplies to indoor or outdoor tanning. Tanning indoors is the only way to regulate your actual exposure time.

If you need a tan by a certain date, start 4 to 6 weeks prior in the low pressure or regular tanning beds. High pressure or combination beds are faster but you still can't wait until the last week or the day before. At Maya Tan, we monitor your tanning progress by keeping a record of the time you do each visit and the lotion used.