How HP works

[EliteMike]

I'm starting a new thread to hopefully consolodate a lot of good information. Hopefully the thread stays on track.

I've been reading alot of past threads about HP units and after reading them, I'm now more confused. Sun Italia makes HP sound like you will get the best/darkest tan possible, but some comments on this board make that statement false.

Also, the time frame that should elapse between sessions seems to be in debate.

This is about HP in general and not one specific bed.

[W8INLINE]

http://www.highpressuretanning.com/what_is_it.htm

The name High Pressure Tanning derives simply from the fact that the lamps used in this type of equipment are manufactured to produce an internal pressure that is somewhat higher than the internal pressure of conventional “low pressure” tanning lamps.
Even so, this internal pressure for the high pressure lamps is just a little above normal atmospheric pressure, while the conventional low pressure tube like lamps are a little below atmospheric pressure.
For years, when it came to high-pressure tanning, there were only two sides: Either you were all for it and believed it provided a deeper, darker tan that lasted longer; or you strictly were against it believing that high-pressure tanning was detrimental to the skin. There was no middle ground. The line in the sand that salon owners had drawn has dulled throughout the years. Today, you might be interested in high-pressure tanning, but unwilling to jump in head-first until some of your questions are answered. Questions such as: "Will high-pressure tanning increase my profitability? Will my clients pay the higher prices associated with these types of units? What is the most current information about high-pressure tanning?
Here is my understanding about the effectiveness of high pressure tanning, derived from my research on the web, discussions with experts and my observations in our own Salon which has both types of equipment from several different manufacturers.
First, the higher the frequency of the rays (the lower the wavelength), the easier it is for them to penetrate the skin. This seems to make sense because as the frequency is increased up to X-rays for instance, there is almost no opposition to the rays.
UVC rays have the highest frequency, with a wavelength of less than 290 nm, and no tanning devices use these dangerous rays. UVB is the next highest frequency range at 290 to 320 nm, followed by the lowest frequency tanning rays, UVA at 320 to 400 nm.
Effective low pressure systems, because of the relatively low power of low pressure lamps (typically up to 160 Watts each), use a higher percentage of UVB rays (up to 9%) than high pressure systems. The higher values of UVB do initially cause the body to produce more melanin for a good tan, but the skin’s defense mechanism causes the skin to thicken to provide protection from the UVB. Also, the damaged skin exfoliates so the tanned look quickly disappears. For these two reasons, to maintain a tan on a low pressure system requires that you tan often, perhaps as much as 3 times a week or more.
High pressure tanning uses lamps of much higher power (up to 2,500 Watts each) and a very low percentage of UVB (less than 1%). The theory is that with little or no damage to the skin caused by high UVB exposure, it is easier for the gentler UVA rays to provide a healthy looking tan in as little as three 15 minute sessions. And with no protective thickening of the skin and no exfoliation, this tan can last for two weeks or more. Some manufacturers go even further with this theory in that their systems filter out not only most of the UVB rays, but also the higher frequency rays in the UVA spectrum.
So from your Client’s point of view, although the high pressure tanning sessions are more expensive, they are provided with a cool, comfortable tan, with less probability of skin damage and at a lower overall cost to maintain a year round tan. And from the Salon’s profitability perspective, high pressure tanning systems make good sense. Highly satisfied clients with fast and long lasting results and upwards of $35 per half hour session. And it is not unusual for your low pressure clients to switch to high pressure sessions if they happen to see someone coming out of your High Pressure room with a really nice tan after just one session.

[EliteMike]

Good, lets keep that info coming in.

[Din]

That just said everything......

[EliteMike]

Back to the salon side of things, how often do you recommend someone to tan at first before going into maintenance schedule of not tanning as much?

[Din]

until they get enough colour that they are happy with and want to maintain it.

[EliteMike]

every day, the reason I am asking is because in one of the magic threads from before, someone stated that 72 hours should pass between sessions, other wise the skin can't do it's thing.

[Din]

zero to tan in 3 sessions......those 3 sessions should be complete within 7-10days. Tan 2-3 times a week in HP maximum leaving 1-2 days in between tans.

Once desired tan is achieved, maintain at 3 times a month.

[BIG AL]

We always tell our customers to skip a least a day when using the Magic. What Din tells them is exactly what we tell them. I just had a customer tell me this morning that if we ever need any testimonials about the Magic, she would be glad to provide them.
She loved the bed.

The difference between a HP bed and a vhr bed is that with the vhr, you can get darker with the vhr than the HP. We have all seen the tanner that is very dark and has that leather look. You just don't get that look with a HP bed. The benifit of the HP tan is that you can get tan quicker and it will last longer than a tan from the regular beds. You also you don't have to tan as often.

[John]

The name High Pressure Tanning derives simply from the fact that the lamps used in this type of equipment are manufactured to produce an internal pressure that is somewhat higher than the internal pressure of conventional “low pressure” tanning lamps.
Even so, this internal pressure for the high pressure lamps is just a little above normal atmospheric pressure, while the conventional low pressure tube like lamps are a little below atmospheric pressure

Wrong, both LP & HP lamps have internal pressure that is lower than the atmospheric pressure outside the lamp. The HP lamps pressure is much lower, think of it as more of a vacuum.

The higher values of UVB do initially cause the body to produce more melanin for a good tan, but the skin’s defense mechanism causes the skin to thicken to provide protection from the UVB. Also, the damaged skin exfoliates so the tanned look quickly disappears. For these two reasons, to maintain a tan on a low pressure system requires that you tan often, perhaps as much as 3 times a week or more.

This may have been true 20 years ago when there was only 100W lamps. There are much better options now. And in the last 3-5 years huge improvements in LP lamps have been made. The "new era" type 160W lamps will tan almost as good as many HP units with much less UVA² than HP has. (UVA² will break down collagen & elastin- or more aging rays with UVA²). On a good 160W unit you can easily maintain a good tan only going once a week.

High pressure tanning uses lamps of much higher power (up to 2,500 Watts each) and a very low percentage of UVB (less than 1%). The theory is that with little or no damage to the skin caused by high UVB exposure, it is easier for the gentler UVA rays to provide a healthy looking tan in as little as three 15 minute sessions

Again, maybe 10 years ago. New HP units, almost all have more than 1% UVB now. Many are as high as 2.5-2.8% UVB. The popular range seems to be about 1.5-1.8% UVB. I highlighted this line "gentler UVA rays to provide a healthy looking tan" Because it can also be misleading. HP has both UVA² & UVA¹, UVA² is the more undesirable of the 2. (When people switch from M-UG 2 glass to M-UG 6 glass that are also increasing not only the UVB but also the UVA² the unit emits.) HP units would have a much gentler tan if they eliminated most or all of the UVA² & increase the UVA¹.

Most manufactureres of HP units will agree that 48 hours is a good rule for time between sessions. Some new units will still be showing you color in 48 hours.

Also gone are the days of 2000W lamps. They are no longer needed to provide great results. Many units are using better componets such as parabolic reflectors & newer filters to provide great results by only using a 500-800W lamps. More wattage is the easy way out & your electric bill will show it.

[EliteMike]

John basically debunked that whole article and no one has responded. This was my exact reason for this thread

[W8INLINE]

I guess the reason would be for the creators of the www.highpressuretanning.com website to update it.