A salon owner in Chicago, Illinois, called Team Wolff and posed this question that was asked by one of his salon guests: What is the difference between narrowband and broadband UVB?
[gap height=”15″]
Usually, people who come to your facility and inquire about UVB – narrowband versus broadband – are seeking UV sessions to treat a particular skin condition, often on the advice of a physician. The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) regulates what can be said when marketing the services offered in indoor tanning facilities. Specifically, salon operators and their staff are prohibited from making any health-related claims about the benefits or results of tanning sessions. With that being said, let’s answer this question.
[gap height=”15″]
First, whether a salon customer is coming to your facility to self-treat a skin condition or simply to get a cosmetic tan, all the typical precautions must be taken with any UV session, such as FDA-compliant eye protection and a skin-typing process to determine an appropriate exposure schedule.
[gap height=”15″]
In phototherapy applications, broadband UVB lamps emit light in a broad range over the UVB spectrum, including both the therapeutic wavelengths specific to the treatment of skin diseases, and other wavelengths which may not be important to the therapeutic process. Narrowband UVB lamps, on the other hand, emit light over a very short range of wavelengths concentrated in the therapeutic range.
[gap height=”15″]
UV wavelengths are measured in nanometers, with the UVB band comprising the range of wavelengths between 280nm and 320nm, while UVB narrowband is a “narrow band” of wavelengths centered in a small and specific grouping.
[gap height=”15″]
A low-pressure tanning lamp is considered “broadband” in UVA and UVB, because it covers the full range of UV needed to create a cosmetic tan. However, a tanning lamp is designed for tanning and is predominantly UVA light with just enough UVB to stimulate the skin’s melanin cells. Lots of UVA is needed to oxidize the melanin and turn it brown, resulting in a tan. Typically, the higher the amount of UVB in the sunlamp, the shorter the recommended exposure schedule and the higher the chance of reddening, unless session times are severely shortened. If your tanning systems are equipped with the lamp product originally recommended or an FDA-compatible replacement lamp, then little reddening should occur if the recommended exposure schedules are followed.
[gap height=”15″]
What do you tell your salon guests who are looking to self-treat a particular skin condition? They are welcome to purchase a package of UV-tanning sessions and see if they notice an improvement in their particular condition; however, as the salon operator, you cannot make any health claims or guarantees of results. Also, ask these guests if they are taking any oral medication or using a topical ointment, as these may cause a photosensitive reaction to the UV exposure.
[gap height=”15″]
Thank you for an excellent question!
