LEARN YOUR SKIN TYPE - FREE SKIN TYPE ANALYSIS

The Golden Rule of Smart Tanning is simple: Don't EVER sunburn. Electric Beach Mankato is a professional indoor tanning facility and is dedicated to helping you avoid sunburn whether you are a tanner here or outdoors under the sun. Helping you understand how much sun your skin type can handle is an important step in your life-long skin care regime. Our message: Moderate sun exposure for individuals who can develop a tan is the smartest way to maximize the real benefits of sunlight while minimizing the risks of too much or too little sun exposure.

Understanding Skin Types

Skin type refers to the category used by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). The groups develop skin type classification systems based on sensitivity to ultraviolet light and skin tone.

The FDA and the AAD recommends knowing your skin type and plan exposure to ultraviolet light from either the sun or an indoor tanning bed. Plan accordingly to avoid skin damage. For example, skin type II tans in a lesser amount of time than skin type III.

Effect of Skin Type on Tanning
The difference between skin types is the amount of melanin produced by the melanocytes. Albinos, which would be considered skin type I, do not produce any melanin and are, consequently, at great risk for burning and suffering long-term skin damage. Thus they should not be out in the sun too long without protection.

People with darker skin tone have a skin type of either V or VI. African-Americans or those of Mediterranean descent are constantly producing a certain amount of melanin and so are less prone to burning.

Anyone in between the I and VI skin types tan at different ranges. Knowing your skin type helps to determine how long you can stay in the tanning bed.

Skin Type and Indoor Tanning
If you want to tan indoors at a tanning salon, an attendant will ask you what your skin type is. If you don't know, the attendant will go through a process to explain what a skin type is and why it is important to know. You need to know what your skin type is before you tan. This helps pick a proper tanning time for you. Find Out Your Skin Type

Someone with a skin type I, light white skin, will not tan and will most likely burn under the UV rays in a tanning bed if in it longer than a couple of minutes. This is just one example that shows how important it is to know your what your skin type is before you begin to tan.

Know Your Skin Type

There are six different skin types according to the Food and Drug Administration and the American Academy of Dermatology. The most sensitive type, skin type I, is pale and does not tan, but burns under too much exposure to UV rays. Skin type VI is dark and only becomes darker under light and doesn't burn.