About Vitamin D and living in the Pacific Northwest Region

If you haven't noticed, the Pacific Northwest has a reputation for consistently maintaining a particular weather pattern. According to a National Weather Service study over a 24 year period, the Seattle area was cloudy or partly cloudy an average 294 days of the year. That leaves only 71 days of clear, sunny days! It's apparent that a sunny day is a welcomed event to Western Washingtonians.

You may be asking, "What does this have to do with Seattle Sun Tan and your salons and services?" Glad you asked, it's important because a significant number of studies have supported the long claim that responsible sun exposure not only has aesthetic benefits, but more importantly, MANY vital health benefits. This is because UV light is an efficient way to increase Vitamin D levels. Why is this important to you? Vitamin D levels contribute to effectively reducing Chronic Ailments such as depression, heart attack, diabetes, internal cancers, hypertension, and multiple sclerosis. The staff at Seattle Sun Tan is committed to helping you learn the truth: that responsible tanning will stimulate Vitamin D levels and add to your health! And you thought it was only about color! However, don't just take our word for it, here are some articles about the benefits of UV light:

Seattle Times Article New England Journal of Medicine US News & World Report Cancer Consultants FoodConsumer.org Times Online

The Keys To Tanning Smart:

Understanding how your skin tans will help you reach the color that you desire. The "Smart Tan" certified tanning professionals here at Seattle Sun Tan will give you the information and knowledge to not only get great color, but to tan smart, in moderation, reducing the chance of overexposure and maximizing the length of your tan!

Additionally check out the links below to discover how a little bit of knowledge will help you get a faster bronze glow that lasts longer; Simply by tanning smarter!

Get A Base Tan - If you're new to tanning, or it's been a while, make sure you start gradually and establish a base tan. A base tan is the moderate tanning of the melanin you already produce which will serve as the "base" for your future tanning. A base tan will help keep your color longer and you'll tan darker! The smart way to achieve a great base tan is to use the higher level beds, more specifically, our Level 5 Velocity high pressure bed and Level 4 SunScape medium/high pressure bed.

Use tanning lotion, everytime! - It's not a gimmic or an excuse to sell you "something". Tannning lotions have a key role in creating a long lasting tan. Smart tanners use a lotion because they are full of antioxidants and vitamins to keep moisture in your skin. Healthy, moisturized skin tans longer, darker, and faster. Conversely, if your skin is dry and not moisturized, you tend to waste the first 5 to 7 minutes of a tan because of light refraction. Skin care not only get's you darker and prevents fine lines and wrinkles, but you'll avoid the waste of your tanning time and money from light refraction! Our salons carry premium skin care prducts from Australian Gold, Swedish Beauty, California Tan, and Designer Skin. our tanning consuultants will be happy to help you find the right lotion for you.

Take care of your skin - Did you know that your skin is the largest organ on your body? You take care of your other organs like your heart and lungs - so why not give the same effort to your skin? Everyone sees your skin, and smart tanners know how to keep it in shape. In addition to using a tanning lotion each time, tanning smart is keeping your skin moisturized with a great after tan lotion. Doing this will postpone your color from fading and prevent fine lines and wrinkles. Additionally, tanning smart includes mixing up the different levels of beds to maximize your color and doing it in moderation. Don't forget to drink water!

Wear FDA approved eyewear, everytime! - Your eyelids are the thinnest layer of skin on your body. Protect your sensitive eyes from UV light by wearing approved eyewear everytime.

Know the basics - Knowing the basics of your skin and how it tans will help you tan responsibly and reduce your risk of overexposure. Our goal is to give you the knowledge to achieve the best tan possible while taking care of your skin. Check out these links for more information to help you get a faster bronze glow that lasts longer; Simply by tanning smarter!

More info about tanning can be found here:

www.sunshinevitamin.org

www.tanningtruth.com

www.theita.com/indoor/faq.cfm

www.sunarc.org