#mytan

1. Tanning Times

The sun beams down 3 types of ultraviolet rays: UVAs, UVBs and UVCs.  UVCs are stopped by the earth’s ozone layer so we don’t have to concern ourselves with them for now.  Broadly speaking, UVAs are responsible for tanning and UVBs are responsible for burning.  It’s important to note that prolonged exposure to UVAs can cause burning too!  The concentration of these rays vary throughout the day so just because the sun is really hot doesn’t mean that you will experience great tanning.  In the early hours of the morning and the last few hours of the evening, UVAs (tanning rays) are relatively high while UVBs are at their lower.  This is the absolute prime time for tanning.  Many people notice that they go extremely dark when tanning in the early hours of the day without burning at all.

Here’s a rough guide to UVB levels throughout the day: Sunrise-9am UVBs are low 9am-11am UVBs begin to rise 11am-4pm UVBs at their highest 4pm-6pm UVBs begin to drop 6pm-Sunset UVBs are low

2. Don’t Burn Many tanners make the mistake of believing they must go from white to red (sunburn) to brown.  Burning causes the body to shed a layer of dead skin and you’ll lose your tan in no time.  The trick is to go brown gradually while minimising sunburn.  Be sure to use plenty of sunblock in the early days of exposure and avoid times when UVBs are at their highest.  After all it’s no good to have a nice brown tan that is peeling off in your bed and gone after a week.  If you really have difficulty going brown without burning then try a tanning accelerator like MyTan Boost to help boost your tanning power.  Read our next step for more information.

3. Tanning Nutrition How can you expect to tan if you don’t have the necessary nutrients to make the tan inside your body?  Research shows that the process of tanning uses the nutrients copper (a mineral) and tyrosine (an amino acid) along with lots of other vitamins.  Consider taking some healthy tanning pills to provide these nutrients so that your body has what it needs to manufacture melanin (the brown pigment in the skin).  Check out our tanning pills for that extra special tan.

4. Use Moisturiser / After Sun Lotion You might want to add a good moisturiser to your shopping list alongside tanning pills.  It’s really important to keep your skin hydrated and in the best condition possible if you want to be able to tan well in sunny conditions.  Be sure to use a moisturiser regularly and use after sun immediately after sun exposure.  When you come out of the sun remember than you are still tanning for a number of hours so it’s best not to jump straight into a shower and use a harsh shampoo or shower lotion that dries out the skin.  Try to wait a few hours before showering if possible while moisturising before and after.