Tanning machines, also know as tanning beds, typically are available in two designs. The first design is a horizontal bed also known as a capsule. The second one is a stand-up vertical chamber. Both designs have the same principle, which is trying to mimic the sun's UV effects on the skin. The vertical chambers are stronger than the horizontal capsules and will provide an even tan while eliminating pressure points.
Both designs of tanning beds contain florescent bulbs, which contain gases, a phosphorous coating and traces of mercury. The electricity ignites the bulbs, causing the mercury atoms to lose their stability. The only way the atoms can return to a stable state is to release energy in the form of UV radiation, as the phosphorous coating allows the desired UV waves to be emitted while the unwanted ones are absorbed.
Tanning beds function by producing ultraviolet radiation such as UVB and UVA rays. The UVB rays are accountable for stimulating the production of the skin pigment melanin while the UVA rays are the ones that oxidize the melanin. UVA rays produces a golden brown color on the skin. As the rays hit you skin, the pigment starts to change color. Tanning beds vary in terms of UV output, strength and time. Your skin type is also an important factor when considering a tanning bed session.
From an electrical standpoint, tanning beds have fluorescent bulbs. The typical tanning bed consists of 10 to 50 bulbs and each uses between 100 to 200 watts of electricity. Unlike your everyday household bulb, tanning bed bulbs do not regulate the amount of wattage that flows through them. As a result, each bulb contains small choke ballast that limits the amount of wattage passing through. This means that each bulb will use the least amount of wattage to work effectively. When the tanning bed is powered on, a combination of UVA and UVB rays are emitted as the tanner lies on the acrylic bed surface.
To understand more about how tanning beds work, we need to first learn how and why our skin tans. As UV rays penetrate our skin, the rays start to break down the DNA in our bodies. In order for our body to protect itself from further damage, it starts to produce melanin. There is a type of cell in our bodies called a melanocyte and this produces melanin, but it can only produce so much at a time.
