We think you have made a wise decision to tan in a clean, comfortable, controlled atmosphere. Our goal is to help you achieve the best tan possible and help you keep that healthy glow as long as you can. With that in mind, here is some information on how your skin tans.


Basically your skin tans the same indoors as out. Ultraviolet rays penetrate your skin causing different reactions. UVA and UVB are emitted by the sun as well as by our tanning lamps. UVB is commonly referred to as the burning ray because it is more intense than UVA and is responsible for sunburn if the skin is exposed to too much. Our tanning lamps emit more UVA or browning rays and much less UVB than the sun, which is the best tanning combination.


Although UVB is responsible for overexposure, it is necessary in acquiring a tan. UVB stimulates melanocyte (pigment cells) in your skin to produce melanin (pigment). The melanin absorbs UVA to keep it from reaching deeper, more sensitive layers, of the skin. UVA oxidizes, or darkens, the melanin forming a tan. This whole process is the body's own natural defense against a sunburn.

Many people will say, "My burn turns to a tan". This is a dangerous myth. Tanning and burning are two completely different processes. A burn may heal and disappear at the same time a tan is developing, giving the appearance that the burn is becoming a tan. The tanning process seems to offer protection from sun exposure, while the burn is your bodies' signal that damage is occurring to your skin. When you get burned, you are actually causing damage to your skin, and repeated damage could lead to some forms of skin cancer. Burning and overexposure can actually make you lose your tan faster due to the peeling of the skin.


It is understood that when you start a package in a tanning center, you are eager to see results. Unfortunately, the tanning process is not something that can be rushed. Sometimes, it can take up to several sessions before a noticeable darkening of the skin is evident. For beginner tanners, initial exposure times in some sunbeds may be as short as six to seven minutes. It may even seem like nothing happened, but remember, it can take up to 48 hours for the process to appear. After you have started tanning, your session length can be adjusted slowly till you reach the desired level of darkening -but keep in mind, everybody's skin is different.


Always use caution when you are switching from a different salon to Miami Tan. Comparing session times in two different pieces of equipment from two different tanning salons can be like trying to compare apples to oranges. Often there is a drastic difference even though the beds may look the same. There can be a large variance in the quality of equipment and bulbs from your old salon to here at Miami Tan. We will always do our best to lead you in the right direction so that you can achieve your desired results according to your skin type.