Solarium: principle of operation, benefits for the body and contraindications

Don't try to tan too quickly in a solarium.

You can also get burned in a solarium, just like on the beach. The first session should not last more than 3-5 minutes, regardless of skin type. The tan should develop gradually: usually a beautiful brown tint appears after 5-6 sessions.

The classic course consists of 10-15 sessions. The minimum break between trips to the solarium is one day, no less. Dermatologists recommend going to the solarium no more than three times a week.

After each session, your skin will be slightly reddened: this indicates that you have received the maximum allowable dose of ultraviolet radiation. However, a little more, and the tan will not be beneficial, but harmful. So give your skin a rest.

Contraindications to visiting a solarium

Sometimes visiting a salon can cause irreparable harm to human health.

The procedure is contraindicated in the following cases:

• exacerbation of chronic diseases;
• the presence of a large number of moles and age spots on the skin;
• predisposition to the development of allergic reactions;
• mastopathy and other diseases affecting the mammary glands;
• presence of tattoos on the body;
• light skin tone;
• age up to 15 years;
• claustrophobia;
• recent operations;
• the presence of developmental pathologies or diseases of the cardiovascular system;
• during pregnancy and lactation.

In the tanning studio, ask to talk about the characteristics of the lamps

First of all, ask about the lamp life and the amount of UV radiation. Everything is very simple: the more lamps in the solarium, the more powerful and newer they are, the less time it takes to turn into a seductive mulatto.

Typically, lamps are changed after 600-800 thousand hours of use, as their effectiveness decreases over time, and the old lamp will no longer be able to tan your skin sufficiently. On the other hand, if the lamp life does not exceed 20 hours, it is better to reduce the session time.

UV radiation is important in terms of the percentage of UVB. For light, thin skin it should not exceed 0.7%, and for dark skin - 2.4%.

Ways to Reduce Risk

There are certain rules and recommendations that will help reduce the harmful effects of solariums . To make your visit to the salon completely safe, you must adhere to the following:

1. Give preference only to proven salons that have high-quality equipment. The staff should consist of highly qualified specialists who can advise on all issues of interest.
2. Before starting sessions, you must consult with your doctor and make sure that there are no contraindications.
3. If a person does not want to completely abandon the procedures, the interval between sessions should be at least 7 days. The duration of each procedure should not exceed 5 minutes. Such a volume of radiation will not have a detrimental effect on human health.
4. Before visiting a solarium, it is strictly forbidden to take a steam bath in a sauna or bathhouse.
5. It is necessary to ensure that the selected equipment is equipped with an emergency button.

By adhering to these simple rules, a person can sunbathe safely.

Use special cosmetics

The sunscreen you use on the beach is not suitable for a solarium. Special creams can be bought directly at the tanning studio or at any online cosmetics store.

The main task of special cosmetics for solariums is not to enhance the tan, but to moisturize the skin (then the tan goes on much more evenly). Be sure to use body lotion between sessions.

Some experts recommend applying a mixture of olive and sesame oil to your skin to moisturize.

Be careful with products containing bronzers (an analogue of self-tanning that appears under ultraviolet light), especially if you have just started going to a solarium. There is an opinion that bronzers give light skin an unnatural shade.

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#4 Buy a used solarium

Not every business owner has a large reserve of finances at the start. What to do if you want to open a solarium, but don’t have enough money?

You can buy used or used solarium cabins. The price of such equipment is significantly lower than that of new models, and the functionality is preserved. The advantage is the ability to comprehensively equip your salon with lower financial costs. Typically, used solariums are put up for sale by beauty salons that have decided to update the equipment.

When purchasing used solariums, you should check:

• equipment technical data sheet,
• lifetime,
• appearance,
• type and condition of lamps.

Cover your private parts, chest, eyes, hair, tattoos, moles

Do not sunbathe naked, even if it is not prohibited by the rules of the salon. Cover your private parts and breasts (at least put small “stikini” stickers on your nipples). And doctors categorically prohibit women over 30 from sunbathing without a swimsuit top.

Protect your eyes with special glasses (if you simply close your eyes, there is still a risk of getting a retinal burn). But ordinary glasses and contacts need to be removed. Wear a cap on your head, because ultraviolet rays make your hair dry, brittle and dull.

Before the session, apply lipstick with SPF protection to your lips if you do not want them to dry out and crack. In addition, it is necessary to hide all tattoos and moles. To do this, also use stickers, which are sold in tanning studios.

Safe tanning rules

To prevent tanning from causing health problems, special rules for visiting a solarium have been developed that cannot be ignored:

• Before going to the salon, it is recommended to purchase high-quality tanning products and after it. If you do not protect your skin from the negative effects of ultraviolet rays, unwanted reactions may occur. Preference should be given to creams intended for solariums rather than for tanning in the sun.
• A few hours before the session, it is recommended to take a shower and wash your skin thoroughly with soap. After this, you should not use cosmetics and perfumes. The exception is sunscreen.
• When tanning, the person must wear nipple stickers and a protective cap. It is necessary to consult in advance whether the salon provides this equipment.
• Before entering the booth, you should remove all jewelry, as well as contact lenses, if any.
• If a person prefers a horizontal solarium, it is necessary to ensure that the salon employees treat the surface of the device with a special compound.
• Before entering the booth, you must wear special safety glasses, since the lamps are harmful to the eyes. It is recommended to apply a protective balm to your lips.
• Next, you should sit comfortably and relax. The salon employee must set the timer for the required time.
• After the procedure, it is recommended to drink a cup of herbal tea as it contains a high concentration of minerals and vitamins. Be sure to take a cool shower and lubricate your skin with after-sun cream or moisturizing lotion.
• The next session can be held no earlier than 3 days after the first visit. If during this time negative skin reactions appear, it is better to avoid visiting the solarium.
• The best option is 2 tanning courses per year. Each of them includes no more than 10 procedures.

Consider your skin type

There are four main skin types, and this is what determines the average session time in a solarium.

• Type one: dark skin, olive, dark hair, dark eyes, usually no freckles. Such people tan well and rarely get burned.
• Type two: the skin is light or slightly dark, the hair is dark brown, brown, and the eyes are gray or brown, there are no freckles. Tanning occurs quickly and evenly on such skin, but prolonged exposure to the sun may result in mild burns.
• Type three: fair skin, few or no freckles. Eyes are gray, blue or green, hair is light brown, brown. Such people are sensitive to ultraviolet rays and burn easily.
• Fourth type: very fair skin, reddish hair, green eyes. There are a lot of freckles; this type of skin is very sensitive to ultraviolet rays. Sunburn occurs instantly, and tanning practically does not appear.

Of course, there are also mixed skin types, so it is better to consult with the tanning studio administrator and ask to develop an individual plan for visits (how many minutes, how many sessions, what breaks to take).

How the solarium works

A solarium is a specialized apparatus equipped with lamps. They produce radiation that is similar to solar radiation. When exposed to the skin, the rays promote the active production of melanocytes. This is what causes the change in skin tone.

There are two types of solariums:

1. Vertical. They are equipped with vertically arranged lamps. You need to sunbathe while standing, so, unfortunately, you won’t be able to relax.
2. Horizontal. In such devices, the lamps are located horizontally. A person can sunbathe while lying down. It is possible to achieve the effect faster, but you have to come into contact with the equipment.

The advantage of the devices is that the radiation is dosed. This completely eliminates the possibility of burns. The air conditioning system cools your skin and creates a pleasant breeze.

It is worth adding that there are varieties that are intended for use at home. They are equipped with 24 lamps.

To achieve the desired effect, you will have to use them much longer than visiting solariums with professional equipment.

Don't get addicted to tanning

Despite rumors that solarium is a very harmful pleasure, it has many advantages. For example, under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, our body synthesizes vitamin D, which cannot be obtained from food. In turn, vitamin D promotes the absorption of calcium and phosphorus (without it, they are absorbed much worse).

In addition, it has been proven that the heat of a tanning bed, like the heat from the sun, is a source of endorphins. These chemicals create feelings of joy and pleasure that we so often lack during the cold season.

On the other hand, you’ve probably already heard about “tanorexia” (a person’s psychological dependence on ultraviolet rays). This is a disease when tanning becomes a manic passion. Don't take your desire to be beautiful and tanned to the extreme, and don't visit the solarium too often.

Pros and cons for the body

Many women and men are concerned about whether a solarium is good for the body. Research has shown that this is partly true. The benefits of solarium for the body are as follows:

• 
  The tan is attractive and even. It is difficult to achieve such an effect with sunbathing in summer.

• Several sessions carried out on the eve of summer will prepare the skin for the upcoming beach season.
• Exposure to ultraviolet light activates the production of vitamins in the body, which helps strengthen the immune system.
• Exposure to lamps activates the production of vitamin D, which has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the musculoskeletal system.
• A visit to the solarium improves your mood, as the procedure promotes the production of the hormone endorphin.
• The procedure is recommended not only for women, but also for men, as it helps fight skin diseases, such as acne and psoriasis.
• Cosmetologists recommend using such manipulations to combat capillary patterns appearing on the body: ultraviolet rays have a beneficial effect on blood vessels.

People often wonder what is more harmful: a solarium or the sun. There is still no clear answer.

Despite the large number of positive effects, the harm of solariums for women and men is undeniable. Among the negative factors, the following should be highlighted :

• Against the background of regular procedures, skin diseases may worsen. After the first procedures, all pathologies should disappear, but after a while a relapse may occur. Repeated rashes will be more difficult to treat.
• Abuse can lead to the development of melanoma, a malignant neoplasm. The risk group includes people under 30 years of age.
• Frequent sessions provoke the formation of age spots on the skin. The risk increases significantly in women who take antibiotics, diuretics and hormonal medications.
• Excessive use of artificial tanning provokes premature aging of the skin. A high dose of ultraviolet light slows down the production of elastin and collagen in the epidermis. Allergic reactions may develop, as well as early wrinkles.
• The procedures are addictive, similar to alcohol addiction. Scientists even introduced a new term - tanorexia. The absence of another portion of radiation is characterized by a sharp change in mood and nervousness.

Everyone has the right to decide for themselves whether solarium is harmful or not, but WHO gave a specific answer.

Scientists have concluded that artificial tanning can damage the DNA of cells, so it is better to refrain from the procedure unless absolutely necessary. This is especially true for people under 18 years of age.

Which solarium is better – vertical or horizontal?

So, in a horizontal solarium, the tan applies evenly, and the procedure itself is pleasant - but there is a risk of “acquiring” white stripes in places where skin folds form. The vertical one does not have this drawback, but in principle it is not so comfortable to use. But the difference between the two types of solariums is not limited to this.

In general, other things being equal, it is better to choose a vertical tanning bed - it is faster, more hygienic and does not have the risk of developing white, untanned stripes in the folds. But if you want maximum uniformity - well, or your budget does not allow you to regularly visit the “turbo solarium” - then you can use the horizontal one.

What to look for when choosing

An ideal establishment offering tanning services should have at least two types of solariums: horizontal and vertical, in order to surely satisfy all the needs and preferences of clients. If there are no such opportunities at the initial stage of development, choose an alternative option. It is better, of course, to prefer a horizontal model. It is more familiar to users, and more convenient. Although, in a vertical design, tanning is faster and more uniform. But over time, you can also purchase a vertical device.

First of all, pay attention to the number and power of lamps. The more sources there are, the faster and better the procedure will be. A standard solarium must have at least 45 lamps.

Carefully inspect the ventilation and cooling system. Damage or the slightest malfunction in the operation of these systems is unacceptable.

Preliminarily assess the size of the room where the equipment will be located. If the sunroom is vertical, be sure to measure the height from floor to ceiling. It is recommended to purchase a structure of such a size that there is a distance of at least 30 cm between the ceiling and the top cover. This is necessary so that the air around the device can circulate freely.

So, it’s difficult to give specific advice on choosing expensive equipment. After all, it is impossible to take into account all the nuances. Here you need to navigate yourself. And, if you study as much information as possible, the choice will be much easier and faster. But there is still one main piece of advice: focus on making the client comfortable and satisfied. Well, the main aspect of choice is equipment safety.

What kind of equipment is a solarium?

Probably everyone is familiar with sunbathing booths. By hearsay or personal experience. But not many people know what this technique looks like and how it works. Even novice entrepreneurs do not always understand what they are going to “deal with.” So, let's tell...

Solarium is a professional cabin for beauty salons, inside of which ultraviolet radiation operates. The inner walls of the device are equipped with special lamps. Due to exposure to ultraviolet radiation, the surface of the skin darkens. A tanning effect is created that is no different from a natural, sunny one. When ultraviolet rays hit the skin, it begins to produce melatonin, a coloring pigment. This gives the body a tanned appearance.

The degree of heating of UV lamps is adjustable. Ideally, the regime is set individually for each client by a solarium employee (most often this is the administrator). But the person inside the “ray chamber” is not limited by anything and can set up a comfortable program at any time.

Studio (professional) solariums are purchased not only for beauty salons. They are installed in sports centers, fitness rooms, and health centers.

Among the features of a professional solarium are:

1. Long-term, continuous operation (unlike household models).
2. Sufficient free space inside the cabin. That is, people with a fear of closed spaces can safely use such a booth.
3. Air conditioning, ventilation. The person inside is comfortable. It won’t burn your skin or start suffocating from lack of air. Everything is thought out and safe!
4. Different operating modes and modern service systems.
5. Availability of equipment for a comfortable tanning procedure.
6. Time counters are provided for the lamps.

So it’s a pleasure to work with modern solariums! The main thing is not to make a mistake with the choice.

Recommendations for use

Despite the lack of standards for the selection of equipment and its use in Russia, the service of solariums in domestic cosmetology exists. And thousands of women use it regularly. How to minimize the risk and get a beautiful tan without compromising your health? Please adhere to the following guidelines.

• Don't visit often. It is unacceptable to use the services of a solarium every day. Dermacosmetologist Olga Zabnenkova clarifies that to obtain a rich tan tone, it is enough to carry out the procedure once a week. To get a light, golden skin tone, tan twice a month.
• Don't use it for a long time. Try not to stay in the capsule for more than seven minutes. Excessive sunbathing leads not only to burns, but also to the formation of age spots, early wrinkles, skin dehydration, menstrual irregularities and swelling.
• Specify the type of equipment. Tanning capsules manufactured before 2009 are not subject to certification. No one knows what kind of lamps are installed in them, how intense they are, how dangerous they are. The process of improving equipment was actively underway in Europe from 2009 to 2013. Use the services only of those salons that use equipment made in Europe or America after 2013.
• Check the service life of the lamps. Light elements develop their resource in 400-540 hours. If lamps are used longer, they may emit a dangerous spectrum of rays. The same applies to light elements installed literally the day before. You need to spend less time under the rays of “fresh” lamps than usual.

How long can you sunbathe in a capsule? A table of tanning times in a solarium based on your skin type will help you determine a relatively safe period.

How many days before can you tan in a solarium? It is possible in one visit if you spend 30 minutes in the capsule. But such a tan will not be permanent, but rather traumatic and painful. Your body will receive an attractive shade by the third session. After that, maintain your skin tone with periodic visits to the salon.

Selection of cosmetics

To protect your skin and get a beautiful, even tone, use special cosmetics for solariums. It is different from beach cosmetics with SPF. The latter contains sun filters that reflect the sun's rays. On the contrary, you need these rays for an even tan.

There are several types of funds.

• Developers. In the form of a cream or lotion, recommended for beginners. These products enhance the production of melanin, the dark pigment of the skin, causing the body to darken faster. The active production of melanin is also valuable due to the higher level of the body’s natural protection from ultraviolet radiation.
• Bronzers. Products for those who already use a solarium and have acquired a tan. Bronzers are applied before the procedure, stimulate the production of melanin, but additionally moisturize the skin and improve blood circulation.
• Fixatives. Products in the form of creams or fluids that are applied after the procedure. They not only help consolidate the results, but also reduce skin stress. Contains moisturizing components, antioxidants, nourishing oils.

Do not use a solarium without appropriate cosmetics! The effect of ultraviolet radiation on unprotected skin is too aggressive. Instead of tanning, you risk getting discomfort, dryness and flaking of the skin.

Video on the topic Reviews and warnings about solariums from personal experience

Memo for a beginner

So, how to go to a solarium if you are going there for the first time? We offer simple rules for visiting a solarium for the first time.

1. Plan for the morning. Such a procedure is stressful for the body, which can disrupt sleep. Plan your first visit in the morning, for example, before work, so that your body returns to normal by the evening.
2. Take a shower. Wash off cosmetics, traces of perfume, and deodorant from your body. All foreign substances can cause burns or allergies during the session.
3. Do not eat before or immediately after the procedure. It is better that at least an hour passes after eating. If you're hungry, drink a glass of milk or yogurt.
4. Use disposable protective equipment. The salon should give you free chest protectors, glasses, slippers, a head cap and a mat. All these protective equipment must be disposable to ensure hygiene requirements. If you are not offered any of this, refuse the salon’s services.
5. Don't sunbathe topless. The mammary glands are extremely susceptible to ultraviolet radiation. Its aggressive effects cause breast cancer. Cover your breasts with disposable breast pads or keep your bra on.
6. Apply before tanning. It will protect the skin from drying out.
7. Control your time. For the first procedure, half the recommended time is enough. In the future, you can increase the duration of sessions.
8. Take a cool shower after the session. This will help cool your skin and make you feel better.
9. Apply after sun treatment. It will protect the skin and maintain the results obtained.
10. Use the tanning bed regularly, but not often. Tanning quickly means losing your spectacular skin tone just as quickly. A lasting effect is achieved by regularity, short procedures 3-4 times a month.

Listen to your general well-being after the session. Did it cause any discomfort? Schedule the next one in a week. Over the next seventy-two hours, your skin will show the accumulated melanin and become darker.

Is solarium harmful during menstruation?

Women always want to be beautiful. Is it allowed to visit a solarium during menstruation? Doctors recommend avoiding visiting establishments during this period. There are several reasons why solariums are harmful to women during menstruation.

Reasons for refusal:

1. Increased bleeding intensity
2. Spasm of the uterine vessels is not excluded,
3. Melanin is poorly produced, spots may appear,
4. The skin becomes more sensitive
5. Dizziness, feeling unwell.

Using tampons at high ambient temperatures is harmful and increases the risk of developing inflammatory processes.

If it is impossible to refuse a solarium, before visiting, apply protective agents to the skin and drink an increased amount of water.

Turbo solarium

This is a vertical solarium with additional useful options that make the procedure more comfortable for users. The increased intensity of ultraviolet lamps allows you to get a uniform tan faster. Additional options include an improved cooling system, which allows for long-term operation of the equipment. Also, a vertical capsule can have an audio system, vibration massage or hydromassage, a timer, and air conditioning.

In a turbo solarium, blue, pink and green radiation lamps are used, which allows you to get not only a tan, but also accelerate the synthesis of natural collagen, which is responsible for the firmness and elasticity of the skin.

Additional functions

Many solarium models are equipped with additional functions that increase the comfort of the procedure. Some of them may be basic, others are purchased and installed separately.

• built-in audio installation - it can be just USB speakers or a whole autonomous system with an MP-3 panel, radio, sound amplifier, speakers. Can be controlled remotely using a remote control.
• air conditioning system - creates spiral turbulences of air inside the cabin, cooling and protecting against overheating; some systems have several temperature modes.
• Aquabreeze - Creates a water mist around the user's body. The device consists of a compressor and several nozzles. Only distilled water is suitable for spraying. Droplets moisturize the skin, allow you to get a more even tan, and provide additional protection.
• aroma installation – allows you to spray special perfume compositions or essential oils in the cabin.
• vibration platform – a platform with a mirror or matte surface and a control panel is installed at the bottom of the cabin. Vibration can be applied to the entire surface or individual areas at once. You can adjust the amplitude (up to 7 mm), intensity, time. Relieves fatigue, improves microcirculation, reduces swelling.

• lift platform equipped with an electric lift. Some vertical solariums are equipped with special lamps for tanning your face. The elevator allows short clients to take the correct position during the procedure.
• mirrored ceiling and floor reflect UV rays and help to get an even tan even in hard-to-reach places.
• frosted glass – provides a more uniform distribution of radiation, hides tube lamps that are visible to the client under transparent glass.
• timer - a small screen is placed inside the cabin to monitor the time. The panel displays a forward or backward countdown. Before the end of the session (3-5 seconds), a certain sound signal sounds.

The benefits and harms of tanning in the sun for the skin

Tanning in the sun is available to everyone. Its benefits are undeniable. Inflammations and wounds on the skin dry out and heal faster, vitamin D and serotonin are produced, which help fight blues and strengthen the body's protective functions. And of course, an even bronze skin tone adds confidence in your own beauty.

The sun both gives pleasant moments and harms our body. If you spend too much time under its rays, there is a risk of age spots, dry skin, rapid aging, and sometimes skin cancer.

Popular brands

The Russian market is filled with various offers. Foreign brands of professional solariums are leading here.

Among them are:

1. MEGASUN. German brand. I would like to note that in terms of the quality of acrylic covers and bases of solariums, these German products are recognized as the highest quality. This company manufactures equipment in various modifications and design solutions. You can choose the appropriate option based on functionality and price. Here are the latest models starting from 500,000 rubles.
2. ERGOLINE. Also a German proposal. The cost of these solariums ranges from 670 thousand to 3.5 million rubles. Horizontal and vertical, single-phase and three-phase - for every taste of the entrepreneur.
3. ALISUN. Made in the Netherlands. Solariums are also widely in demand in Russia. Prices range from 450 to 750 thousand rubles. Excellent quality, durability and good results - this is what the manufacturer guarantees.
4. LUXURE. Another brand from the Netherlands. It offers models costing from 70 thousand to 2 million. For example, the most affordable model for 79,000 rubles in a vertical version. With convenient sliding doors. Completely safe to use. Equipped with ventilation, digital control, internal lighting. For a start-up business, this is a completely acceptable option.
5. ULTRA TAN. Sweden. For 800,000 rubles you can purchase a modern, innovative model. Vertical, in a round design. It looks very nice. Such a solarium will not only make people beautiful, but also decorate the salon. Everything you need is provided here - cooling systems, ventilation, temperature control.

Which brand and model you prefer is up to you. It is important to evaluate financial capabilities. Although, in the modern Russian market of complex equipment for business, you can use credit or installment plans. Therefore, if you are confident in your strengths and the prosperity of your business, why not?

Solarium MEGASUN

Solarium ULTRA TAN