REcommended Exposure
Tanning bed manufacturers and Health Canada have developed the Recommended Exposure Schedule. The schedule lists recommended incremental exposure times that lead to a maximum time for the tanning bed. The maximum time should not be exceeded. The schedule is also dependent on recent tanning history.
Tanning occurs when the epidermis or outermost layer of skin is exposed to ultraviolet light. UVB rays initiate the tanning process by stimulating melanocytes or tanning cells. In turn, these cells produce melanosomes that contain melanin or pigment. Skin then becomes darker when melanin oxidizes as it absorbs UVA light.
|
Skin Type |
Week 1 |
Week 2
|
Week 3
|
Week 4 |
|
I |
Unable to tan – Do not expose
|
|||
|
II |
3 minutes
|
5 minutes
|
8 minutes
|
12 minutes
|
|
III |
3 minutes
|
5 minutes
|
8 minutes
|
15 minutes
|
|
IV |
4 minutes
|
8 minutes
|
13 minutes
|
20 minutes
|
|
V |
5 minutes
|
9 minutes
|
16 minutes
|
20 minutes
|
|
VI |
6 minutes
|
10 minutes
|
16 minutes
|
20 minutes
|