Achieving Total Wellness Now

It used to be that there was nothing like a golden tan.   Remember Cary Grant and George Hamilton always being several shades more golden than their costars?  That was yesteryears view of life.  Now most doctors and medical practitioners want us all to look like Caspar the Ghost or the Pillsbury Dough Boy.

The increase in the incidence of skin cancer caused the medical community to highly recommend swearing off sunning and tanning completely.  The problem is that our bodies need a certain amount of sunlight to synthesize Vitamin D.  Typically about 15 to 20 minutes a day of direct sunlight will do the trick.

Sunlight gives off both UVA and UVB radiation.  It is the latter that works for the Vitamin D.  In many places right now it is winter; and that means a limited amount of sunshine with the accompanying cold that makes getting overall body exposure impossible. 

The solution- those much maligned places called tanning salons with their tanning beds that can give you an intense exposure to ultraviolet radiation in a very short period of time.

Here is the rub- You get a tan from UVA. You get Vitamin D synthesis from UVB.  Most tanning beds have a high concentration of UVA bulbs. 

If you choose to tan at one of these places here are a few tips:

• Make sure there is a mixture of UVA & UVB bulbs in the bed.
• Cut your exposure time to half that of outdoors based on your natural skin color.  15 to 20 minutes should translate to 7-1/2 minutes under the lights if you are fair skinned.
• Make sure that the bed is sterile and do this only once a week.
• Cover your eyes with proper eye protection.  Intense light on the retina will not have any sensation but you will go blind over time.
• Enjoy your new tan and well-being. 

Best Wishes!

Joanne & Paul

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