FAQs about Outdoor Tanning Q: What is SPF? A: SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. This is a multiplier that tells you how much longer you can remain in the sun without burning while wearing a sunscreen. For instance, if you can usually tolerate the sun for 10 minutes without a burn, an SPF 15 will provide you with 15 times or 150 minutes of protection without burning. Q: When should I apply sunscreen and how much should I use? A: It is recommended that you apply your sunscreen first thing in the morning as part of your daily skin care routine. Apply liberally and evenly to all exposed skin. The average adult should apply approximately one ounce (about the size of a golf ball) to cover the entire body. Remember to apply sunscreen to delicate areas such as the lips, ears, feet, hands, and any exposed skin on the top of the head. It is recommended you allow a few minutes for the sunscreen to be absorbed into your skin before you go outside. Sunscreens should be reapplied every few hours and especially after swimming or perspiring. Q: Do I need to take extra precautions in the sun if I'm taking medication? A: Photosensitization, an increased sensitivity to sun exposure, is a possible side effect of certain medications, including certain kinds of antibiotics, heart and blood pressure medicines, antihistamines, and antidepressants. Consult your physician or pharmacist regarding photosensitization related to any prescription medications prior to spending time in the sun. Q: How can California Tan sunscreens help me tan while protecting from sunburn at the same time? California Tan sunscreens feature the advanced tanning technology of Vitatan 2000 which contains an exclusive combination of vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants, oxygen, and energy to activate and accelerate the skin's natural ability to produce a tan. When combined with broad-spectrum UVA/UVB sun burn protection, our "tanning sunscreens" help initiate the development of a healthy-looking tan while avoiding sun burn. Q: Why are California Tan lotions sold in a step system? A: The Outdoor 3-Step System provides advanced tanning and sunscreen products featuring unique ingredients that are specially formulated to maximize tanning while minimizing burning. Each step addresses the skin's special needs during various stages of the tanning process. Refer to Outdoor Tanning Basics to learn more about the Outdoor 3-Step System. Q: How does the outdoor step system work? A: Our Outdoor 3-Step System is based on scientific research and identifies specific tanning and burn protection needs throughout all stages of the tanning process to ensure fast, dark tanning results while minimizing burning. California Tan Step 1 Base Tan Builders help jumpstart the tanning process by delivering the advanced tanning technology of Vitatan 2000, which supplies essential vitamins and nutrients to help the skin build color quickly. California Tan Step 2 Sun Burn Protector products provide broad-spectrum UVA/UVB burn protection while aiding in the development of a deep, dark tan. California Tan Step 3 Dark Tan Extenders help care for the skin after tanning to aid in the further development of color. Step 3 products also contain Vitatan and Copper to help darken tanning results. Refer to Outdoor Tanning Basics to learn more about the Outdoor 3-Step System. Q: How do I find the sunscreen that's right for me? A: There are many Sun Burn Protector products that range in the level of protection they offer. Therefore it is best to take a moment and answer our brief questionnaire under My Tan - Outdoor to get your personal product profile. This unique system of questions is designed to find the best product(s) for you based on your tanning history, geographic location and UV index, skin type, personal tanning needs and product preferences. Q: How do I find the Base Tan Builder that's right for me? A: There are many Base Tan Builder products to choose from and therefore it is best to take a moment and answer our brief questionnaire under My Tan - Outdoor to get your personal product profile. This unique system of questions is designed to find the best product(s) for you based on your personal tanning needs and product preferences. Q: Do I need to wear sunscreen even if I have a sunless tan? A: Although you may feel and look like you have a real tan, a sunless tan is only the temporary appearance of a tan and therefore provides your skin with no real sunburn protection. It is absolutely necessary you wear a sunscreen when outdoors to protect your skin from burning. Q: I've heard that you don't need more than an SPF 15. Is that true? A: The recommended SPF level a person uses is dependent on several factors including skin type, UV index, duration in the sun, and tanning history. Therefore, you can not make a generalization that a certain SPF level is appropriate for all people. It is best to find out the best product for your needs by taking the questionnaire under My Tan - Outdoor. Q: If I put on an SPF 8 and an SPF 15, is that the same as an SPF 23? A: No. SPF numbers don't add up the way you might think. Using a SPF 8 and SPF 15 together won't allow you to remain in the sun 23 times longer than without protection. You need to determine how long you'll be in the sun, along with your skin type, and choose the appropriate SPF level for you. Q: My makeup contains an SPF 15. Do I still need to apply a sunscreen product? A: With all sunscreens it is important to apply a generous amount evenly over all areas of exposed skin. The amount of make-up used on your face is generally not sufficient to provide a true SPF 15 protection. Make-up also has a tendency to wear off during the day. It is therefore recommended to use additional sunscreen when you plan on spending a considerable amount of time in the sun. We recommend California Tan SPF 15 Faces, a hypoallergenic sunscreen designed specifically for delicate facial skin. Q: What is the difference between chemical and physical sunscreens? A: Chemical sunscreens have unique qualities that allow them to absorb UV light and break it down prior to the UV light penetrating the skin. Physical sunscreens create a barrier to the UV light, thus diminishing the amount that penetrates the skin. Q: What is the UV Index? A: The UV index measures how strong the UV rays are from the sun at a particular place on a particular day. Its purpose is to help people protect themselves from UV rays. You can check your local weather channel or go to My Tan - Outdoor to determine the UV index for your location. Q: Do I really need to wear sunscreen even if it's cold outside? A: UV light filters through the atmosphere regardless of temperature and even if it is cloudy. The UV index is an indication what level of protection is recommended for the location, day and time you will be in the sun. Visit My Tan - Outdoor to find out the UV index for your location. Q: If I wear water-resistant sunscreen, why do I need to reapply? Water-resistant is not water-proof and therefore even water-resistant sunscreens will eventually wear off the skin after prolonged swimming, toweling off, and/or perspiring. It is best to reapply your SPF liberally and often to avoid burning. Q: Why can't children under the age of 6 months wear sunscreen? Under six months is simply too young for a baby to even be exposed to the sun. When babies younger than 6 months are not adequately protected by clothing, The American Academy of Pediatrics says it is safe to use sunscreen on small areas such as baby's face and back of hands. Consult with your doctor for more information. Q: What is the minimum SPF recommended for kids? A: For children six months of age and older, we recommend sunscreens with an SPF 30 or higher. Babies under six months should be kept out of the sun. California Tan offers a SPF 30+ Kids Spray. The convenient spray application makes it simple to apply on active children. Q: Are California Tan sunscreens PABA-free? What does this mean? Yes, all California Tan sunscreens are PAPA-free, meaning they do not contain PABA or derivatives of PABA. PABA is a sunscreen ingredient that was used a long time ago. While it was a wonderfully efficient sunscreen it could also be irritating to the skin. Therefore sun and skin care manufacturers almost never use this ingredient any more since there are now many more sunscreens to choose from. Q: Why is keeping skin moisturized essential to great tanning results? A: Simply stated: Skin that is moisturized better absorbs UV light and therefore will tan faster. Moisturization is also key in aiding the skin to perform at its optimal efficiency and thus will allow the development of faster, darker color. Skin that is dry and dehydrated will look dull and ashy and will not be able to perform at its best. In more scientific detail: Skin loses water to the atmosphere by diffusion through the epidermis and the sweat glands. Constant cell renewal, the intercellular lipids and the NMF (natural moisturizing factor) keep moisture loss in balance. Moisture loss from the skin is referred to as TEWL or Tran epidermal water loss. It is necessary for the skin to maintain between 10 and 20% water in the stratum corneum to avoid dry skin conditions. Dry skin is rough, feels abnormally tight and may show signs of fine lines and wrinkles. Because the skin is rough, it will not be able to reflect light from its surface uniformly giving the skin a dull appearance. This also affects UV-absorption because the dry, rough skin may refract UV-light. The task of moisturizing cosmetic products is to improve the degree of hydration of the skin. Active moisturizing ingredients help counter the drying-out of the stratum corneum of the epidermis, and thus contribute to the skin's smoothness and elasticity, while helping deliver greater tanning results. Q: Why do some people tan and others burn? A: The reaction of our skin to sun, either burning or tanning, is based on genetics. We inherit the ability to tan or burn. In general, fair-skinned people often burn and are rarely able to tan. Darker skin, with its increased melanin, has more natural protection and tends to tan easily. Q: I was fine when I left the beach and now I'm burnt. What happened? A: The redness associated with sunburns can take up to 24 hours to show. If you are outside and your skin begins to turn red, get out of the sun. You may already have a sunburn. Q: What can I do to relieve a sunburn? A: Get and stay out of the sun if you develop a sunburn. It is also important to drink fluids and hydrate the skin with moisturizers. A special burn relief product, such as one that contains Aloe Vera and Calendula, can be used to moisturize and help soothe the sunburned areas. Aloe Vera provides excellent healing, soothing, and moisturizing benefits to the skin. Calendula provides soothing effects and helps heal damaged or irritated tissues. We suggest trying California Tan Total Insurance to help soothe sunburned skin. Q: What are bronzers? A: California Tan Bronzer products use self tanning ingredients to supplement tanning results with an additional boost of color while your natural tan develops. The key ingredient is DHA (Dihydroxyacetone), which causes the skin surface to turn brown after 2-4 hours, mimicking a natural tan. California Tan bronzing products are available in Double, Triple, and Quatro bronzing levels, which refers to the level of DHA in the product. A Quatro Bronzer will last four times longer than a standard bronzer. Keep in mind that some manufacturers use the term "bronzer" to describe a product that contains a temporary cosmetic bronze tint that can be washed off with soap and water, while others refer to bronzers as products that do both - provide a boost of color in 2- 4 hours AND deliver an immediate bronzed tint. Q: How do bronzers work? A: The principle tanning agent used in all bronzers, or self-tanning formulas, is dihydroxyacetone (DHA). This ingredient does not produce a "real tan" by increasing the skin's melanin levels; rather it creates a tanned appearance by developing a brown color on the surface of the skin. The action of DHA is limited to the upper layer of the skin and involves a reaction between DHA and skin proteins that produces brown compounds. The development of color takes anywhere from 2 to 4 hours and the intensity of color is dependent upon the DHA concentration in the product as well as each tanner's individual skin characteristics. The color developed by the DHA usually lasts 5 to 7 days and begins to fade as the top layer of the skin naturally exfoliates. Q: Why use a product with bronzer? A: A natural tan takes about 24-48 hours to develop. Therefore, a product that contains a bronzer is an excellent way to get a boost of color while a natural tan develops. Customers with a fair complexion or who want to see results immediately will enjoy the instant gratification of seeing bronzed results 2-4 hours after application. Bronzing products are also beneficial for evening out both skin tone and tanning results and can help maintain a healthy-looking, bronzed glow in between tanning sessions. Q: How long should I wait after using a bronzer product before I shower? A: It is best to wait about six hours after using a bronzer product before you bathe or shower to give the DHA time to fully react with skin proteins to develop the beautiful appearance of a tan. Q: Can I work out after I used a product with bronzer? A: It is best to wait about six hours after using a product with bronzer before partaking in any strenuous activities that may cause perspiration. This will give the DHA time to fully react with skin proteins as well as prevent streaking that could result from excessive perspiration.