UVB Rays — Building Rays
UVB rays are known as the “building rays”. This specific type of short wave ray builds melanin in your skin. Melanin is what produces the natural base tan and color in humans. In short, the more melanin you have, the tanner you can become after developing a strong base tan. This base tan protects your skin from burning when you’re outside under the hot summer sun.
While UVB rays can help build your tan, UVB rays, also known as the “burn ray”, can also cause you to burn if you take on too much too soon. It is important to be patient and use those UVB rays to build up a great base tan over time.
Building up the right amount of melanin can take time, depending on your skin type and genetics, so don’t rush. Just think, while you’re piling up your melanin inventory, you’re also taking care of your vitamin D levels at the same time. If you rush your tan, you’ll end up with a burn. The best tans take time.
UVA Rays — Bronzing Rays
Once you’ve built up your base tan, use UVA rays, also known as “bronzing rays”, to bronze the melanin. You’ve built up a substantial amount of melanin, and now it is time to use it to achieve the bronze tan you’ve longed for. The UVA rays help emit pigment (color) out of the melanin you’ve generated.
UVA long wave rays are strong and penetrate the skin deeper, so you’ll only need to be exposed to the rays for a short amount of time to produce a beautiful, long-lasting golden brown tan.
Use Both UVB and UVA Tanning Beds for the Best Results
In order to achieve your desired tanning results effectively, use a combination of UVA and UVB tanning beds once you’ve developed your base tan. By mixing it up, you’ll give your skin something to respond to.
Think about it this way, if you go to the gym three times a week and complete the same cardio exercise every time, after a while your body will get used to the workout and you won’t see any results. The same goes for tanning. Using a smart combination of UVA and UVB tanning beds after completing your base tan will give you the tanning results you’ve been looking for.
