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How do we tan? Why are there so many types of tanning lamps? What are ratios? What are Te and Tm? Maintaining Optimal Equipment Performance. Questions & Answers about LightSources   Why are there so many types of tanning lamps? With so many distinct skin types and so many different climates, there cannot be one lamp that is ideal for everyone who desires a tan. Some like stronger lamps than others. Some of us find that our faces (and perhaps our legs) tan differently than our bodies. For this reason, Light Sources manufactures a wide variety of tanning lamp strengths, and some lamp types which have two (or more) strengths present in each individual lamp. These different tanning strengths are achieved by varying the amounts of UVA and UVB in a lamp. The amount of each will determine the type of tan the lamp will yield. Here are two superimposed spectral output curves of the “2.6” and the “5.0” lamps. The "5.0" is understood to be a stronger type of lamp but why is it stronger? The big difference lies in the UVB region, which we have magnified below. There may be only a subtle difference between the two lamp types, but that small difference may yield a large difference in tanning performance, as many of us have experienced. A subtle increase in UVB can make a much stronger lamp.

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