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Basic Indoor Tanning Certification Course |
Chapter 7
Determining an Exposure Schedule
· Exposure time
· Skin typing
Accurate control of exposure times is necessary to decrease the risk
of overexposure to ultraviolet radiation. Another factor involved in optimal
tanning sessions is being able to accurately identify the various skin
types of those clients that frequent indoor tanning facilities.
Determining an Exposure Time
Maximum timer intervals depend upon the intensity and spectral distribution
of ultraviolet emission from your equipment and must not exceed the maximum
recommended exposure time provided on the manufacturer’s label.
Equipment manufacturers are required to develop an exposure schedule and
to establish the recommended exposure time; and therefore the maximum
timer interval based on the characteristics of their particular products.
According to the RED Act, the purpose of a sunlamp product timer is to
provide for reliable control of exposures and to limit acute (and delayed)
damage from unintentionally long exposures.
The RED Act requires that the manufacturer provide an exposure schedule
with the product warning label. The exposure schedule allows a user to
gradually build up a tan and maintain it while controlling the risk of
acute injury and delayed adverse effects. Because the UV dose that causes
a barely discernible pink coloration of the skin (MED or minimal erythema
dose) is not the same for everyone, the exposure schedule for the first
time user will depend on the skin type of the user. Sub-erythema doses
of UV received at 24-hour intervals initially lead to a reduction of the
erythema thresholds. Therefore, the exposure schedule and maximum recommended
exposure time limits the potential for erythema and monitors the dose
of radiation necessary to achieve and maintain a tan.
Determination of Skin Type
Skin types are divided into six classes, depending on skin color and race.
Caucasians make up the first four skin types with skin type 1 being the
most pale. Skin types 5 and 6 normally include very brown skinned or black
persons.
SUN-REACTIVE SKIN TYPES USED IN CLINICAL PRACTICE
Type Skin Reaction Examples
I. Tans little or not at all, always burns easily and severely, then peels
People most often with fair skin, blue eyes, freckles; white unexposed
skin
II. Usually burns easily and severely (painful burn); tans minimally
and lightly; also peels People with fair skin; blue or hazel eyes blonde
or red hair; white unexposed skin
III. Burns moderately gains average tan Average Caucasian; white unexposed
skin
IV. Burns minimally, tans easily and above average with each exposure;
exhibits IPD (immediate pigment darkening) reaction People with light
or brown skin; dark brown hair, dark eyes; unexposed skin is white or
light brown (Orientals, Hispanics and Mediterraneans)
V. Rarely burns, tans easily and substantially; always exhibits IPD reaction
Brown skinned persons; unexposed skin is brown (East Indians, Hispanics
etc.)
VI. Tans profusely and never burns; exhibits IPD reaction Persons with
black skin (e.g. African & American Blacks, Australian & South
Indian Aborigines)
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