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We often get this type of question by phone or via our website: “I want to equip my beds with your darkening or bronzing lamp – which one do I choose?”
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Unfortunately, a lamp that will make everyone happy has not yet been created. Based on skin types, some people tan faster than others. Some develop a dark brown color and some just golden brown – this is a function of a tanner’s personal skin physiology. As per the chart below, a Skin Type V would tan much faster, get much darker and be less likely to burn than a Skin Type II.
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Unfortunately, a lamp that will make everyone happy has not yet been created. Based on skin types, some people tan faster than others
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To produce a cosmetic tan, every sunlamp needs just enough UVB to stimulate the melanin, and copious amounts of UVA to oxidize it and turn it brown. Typically, the higher the amount of UVB, the shorter the exposure schedule and the more reddening that occurs unless session times are severely decreased. If you use the lamp originally recommended for use in the equipment or an FDA-compatible replacement, then little reddening should occur if you follow the recommended exposure schedule. It’s when you replace the original lamp with a higher UVB lamp or non-compatible lamp that erythema may occur.
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There are different UV wavelengths: UVB is in the range from 280-320 nanometers; UVA2 is from 320-340nm and UVA1 is from 340-400nm. UVB stimulates melanin production and can burn the skin if overexposed; UVA2 acts a lot like UVB, with melanin production and some pigment-darkening; it is also closely associated with elastosis (photoaging, wrinkles). UVA1 penetrates deeper past the surface of the skin and is primarily responsible for pigment darkening. In general, the shorter the wavelength (280nm shorter than 400nm), the less the penetration past the surface of the skin.
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All of our lamps have just enough UVB and lots of UVA for darkening. Our newer lamps focus on providing enough UVB to stimulate the melanin and aid in production of vitamin D, plenty of UVA1, and less of UVA2. So, getting back to the original question: “Which lamp is your darkening or bronzing lamp?” The answer would be, “Any Wolff System lamp – if used correctly.”
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