Lamp vs Sun Ratio

[raynchris]

I have a question, it may sound silly, but whatever.

I have had customers come in and ask, " Well if I go 10 minutes in this bed, how many hours does that equal outside ? "

I'm curious, is there some kind of formulated equation, us, as salon owners can use to break that down ? Between bed type, lamp type, wattage and time frames ?

Any help would be useful. If there is even such a determination.

[stan@sunsys]

Two criteria can properly be used to compare indoor vs. outdoor UV exposure. Those are "tanning" dose, of which Don Smith probably has the best bandwidth formulation, and MEDs, or erythema dose.

The simplest comparison is MEDs. 4 MEDs is 4 MEDS, whether it's indoors or outside. So depending on your location (latitude), and time of day of exposure, it may take anywhere from roughly 45 minutes to an hour to get 4 MEDs outside, up to never even reaching that dose if one were outdoors all day.

Besides that though, there's the body geometry problem. 4 MEDs on the top of a bald person's head isn't the same thing as on their stomach that is a vertical and sometimes shaded surface. So the time outdoors always needs to be increased to be comparing apples to apples.

But the short answer is for a typical mid summer, mid day, mid lattitude day, a full tanning session is roughly equal to 2 - 4 hours outdoors, considering average exposure over a person's total body.

Oh yea, I forgot to mention, the International standard for the erythema dose is different than the FDA's, so in reality, the 4 MED limit in a tanning bed is usually 3 CIE MEDs or less. But that's another story.

[dcjjp1]

I tell my clients that it's difficult to calculate as the UV % outdoors is contingent on too many variables that fluctuate too much. It usually satisfies them.

Indoors in a constant and your "spf" (so to speak) is your exposure time and frequency of sessions.

[Mojave Tan]

Originally Posted by dcjjp1

I tell my clients that it's difficult to calculate as the UV % outdoors is contingent on too many variables that fluctuate too much. It usually satisfies them.

Indoors in a constant and your "spf" (so to speak) is your exposure time and frequency of sessions.

We tell them the same thing. Too many variables to account for outdoors. Customers seem to understand.

[stan@sunsys]

Cop out answer if I ever saw one. Doesn't make you sound very intelligent.

They understand all right. They understand that the ony info they can get is the stuff they here from the news and dermotologists. If dermotologists can be out there making claims (false ones) about indoor vs. outdoor exposure, then salon owners should be able to sound smarter than a 5th grader when asked about the subject or give up the fight.

[dcjjp1]

Stan, Is my statement not true? I just choose not to go int to the specifics of it. Do you truly think the common person would get what you are stating above? Hell, I barely understand it fully and I have been doing this for years.

Remember these are the people that don't pull the canopies down when told and also don't shut their mouths while being Mystic tanned. Keep it simple.

[solarmeter®]

Spoken like a bunch of people without UV meters lol.

[digital11]

Now THAT'S funny !!!!! And on the money. Hey it rhymes

[dcjjp1]

That it certainly true guys. I'm gonna buy one next week.

[Mojave Tan]

If you explain something to the customer and they can say "So What" or look at you with their mouth open because they don't understand the language (ie. 4 MEDS) or what you have presented then your explanation failed. You lengthy presentation would go over 80% of our tanners heads.

[stan@sunsys]

A knowledgable salon owner should know the full answer. But this is what I said a few posts ago to tell the typical customer that doesn't care about the full explanation, that you all seem to be forgetting to read.

Originally Posted by stan@sunsys

But the short answer is for a typical mid summer, mid day, mid lattitude day, a full tanning session is roughly equal to 2 - 4 hours outdoors, considering average exposure over a person's total body.

At this point, if they ask for more information, then if you know the answer you can explain it to them. If not, then don't. But you're right, at least 80%, and probably more than 90%, will never ask you to elaborate.

But at least you won't be telling them "it's too complicated". They don't want excuses when they ask a question, they want answers.

[solarmeter®]

Chances are... many of the customers are intelligent enough to understand - even if some salon owners don't have a clue.

Not an insult - just a fact of life. Some folks actually care about "the details". Others can't comprehend or don't give a shit.

Kinda like people who took out subprime 4% adjustable rate mortages without reading the fine print first.... and are now saying "Woah - bail me out!" Nope - sorry. NO bail out on our dime....

[Drew]

I just ask them.

Here in San Diego? Or somewhere else?
What time of day?
then...what month are we talking about?
and...is it clear or cloudy or partly cloudy?

are you lying down, or walking around?