FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Q. Why did my (EFT) membership rate go up?

Short Answer: There’s a new 10% federal tax on UV indoor tanning.
Long Answer: The indoor tanning excise tax (10%) was imposed by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (aka, Healthcare Reform or “ObamaCare”). The law states that all providers of UV indoor tanning services must charge their customers an additional 10% excise tax for those services starting on July 1, 2010. Our EFT contracts state pre-tax rates, and up until now, there has been no federal or state tax on any tanning services, so we’ve never needed to add any mandatory tax to any tanning services. To say the least, we were NOT in favor of the Tan Tax and fought it vigorously. We did support the “BoTax” (a 5% tax on Botox procedures) that was originally in the bill, however that was taken out at the 11th hour due to lobbyists for the American Medical Association’s influence in the Senate, at which point the Tan Tax was inserted and later endorsed by the President.

Q. Is it just (STAND) UV & Spray Tanning charging the tax?

Short Answer: No
Long Answer: The law affects any “person that use, provide, or pay for indoor tanning services” anywhere in the United States of America. Every tanning salon in Atlanta and across the country is required to charge a 10% excise tax on UV indoor tanning services starting July 1, 2010.

Q. Which services were affected?

Short Answer: All UV tanning services purchased after June 30, 2010 and a portion of the cost of “double dips” purchased after June 30, 2010. Mystic Tans are not taxed at all. Services that offer a combination of both UV and UV-Free services are taxed at a calculated rate of 4.67% based on a ratio of our High Pressure and Mystic Tan EFT memberships as per the IRS regulations.

Q. Why weren’t consumers notified earlier?

Short Answer: We were only given 2 weeks by the IRS.
Long Answer: Although the tanning tax was inserted in the Senate version of the bill back in late December 2009 (several hours before the Senate voted on the bill), and although it was signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010, the IRS only issued regulations on the indoor tanning excise tax on June 15, 2010 (just 16 days before it was supposed to go into effect!). Up until that point, we had no idea what exactly was going to be taxed, how exactly the tax would be paid, how it would affect EFT memberships, double dips, combination sales, past purchases, as well as a litany of other unanswered questions. The law itself was very generic, specifying only the tax rate (10%), who would pay the tax (consumers), and how often the tax needed to be paid to the government by the business (quarterly). Because of all these unanswered questions, and because of how unique this tax is, it was vital that we first receive the regulations from the IRS before communicating anything to our customers. The healthcare act gives the medical insurance industry 3-5 years to adjust to the changes required by the law, and it gave our industry approximately 2 weeks.

Q. Is (STAND) UV & Spray Tanning making any money off of the 10%?

Short Answer: Not a dime.
Long Answer: 100% of the money collected is remitted to the federal government on a quarterly basis, which is supposed to help defray the cost of health care reform.

Q. What if I don’t use my membership? Do I still have to pay the tax?

Short Answer: Yes, taxes are paid regardless of use.
Long Answer: The IRS regulations specifically say, “…payments for indoor tanning services are subject to tax, regardless of actual usage.” This was NOT how the law was written, but apparently the IRS has final say on this matter.

Q. Is the government taxing UV tanning because it’s dangerous?

Short Answer: It's all about the money.
Long Answer: One would assume this is all about money since taxes are paid regardless of whether you use the service or not. The IRS regulations also gives passes to a “Qualified Physical Fitness Facility” that offers tanning beds as part of its monthly memberships or doctors who use tanning beds on their premises for phototherapy services. If the government were concerned about the dangers of UV tanning they’ve decided not to tax a number of industries that also provide those services. Regardless, as always, (STAND) UV & Spray Tanning advocates moderate tanning and is proud of the many benefits of UV tanning, many of which are conveniently listed in the IRS regulations (page 14 of RIN 1545-BJ41, Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service).

Q. Just how much is this tax going to collect for the government?

Short Answer: Less than half of 1 percent of the cost of health care reform.
Long Answer: This tax was not drafted by congressional staff and did not go through the normal legislative vetting process or any committee consideration, a process that surely would have weeded out the ridiculous idea of a federal excise tax on an industry as fragmented as the tanning industry. The IRS is simply not setup to collect this type of tax. As a result of not going through this process, this poorly conceived tax will likely fail to accomplish its stated task of raising revenue for health care reform. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the health care reform act will cost us $940 billion over 10 years. They also estimated that the tan tax would collect only about $2.5 billion over that same decade (the Indoor Tanning Association estimates it will be about half of that). The IRS has estimated that their collection / auditing costs will be somewhere in the neighborhood of 70%... that means for every dollar they collect from the tan tax, it could cost them 70 cents to actually collect that money. That means the government might net enough money from this tax to pay for about .04% - .08% of health care reform over the next decade! So this tax will inconvenience millions of tanning consumers (80% of which are women), hurt approximately 18,000 small businesses around the country, all for what will be a drop in the bucket towards funding health care reform.

Q. This tax is ridiculous and I shouldn’t have to pay it! What can I do to get this tax repealed?

Short Answer: Visit RepealTanTax.com
Long Answer: Visit RepealTanTax.com and fill out the form. It takes about 30 seconds. Doing so will also list your Senate and House Rep’s phone numbers, and taking a few minutes to call their offices to express your opinions would also be VERY helpful.  

It depends on your individual skin type and the level of equipment. Our sales associates will evaluate your skin type to determine the recommended time for your first session, as well as the equipment that will best suit you. 

Yes you must wear federally approved eye wear. Besides the fact that it's required by law, it's just common sense. Your eyes are sensitive to UV light and should not be exposed while tanning. A tan is created by UV light penetrating the upper layers of the skin... and the skin on your eyelids is the thinnest on your body, providing little protection against the light.  

Yes! High quality indoor tanning lotions stimulate melanin's rise to the surface of your skin. As melanin encounters UV light, it turns brown. The more melanin that reaches the skin's surface the deeper and darker the tan. A quality indoor tanning lotion promotes the retention of moisture, thereby keeping your skin smooth and supple while minimizing flaking.

You have total privacy while you tan, so you are welcome to tan wearing (or not wearing) whatever you please to get the results you desire. But remember that the parts of your body that have previously been exposed to the sun can tolerate more UV exposure. You should expose the areas of your body that have not been exposed to UV light as gradually as possible. 

Absolutely not. The better the tanning booth, the better your tan. At (STAND) UV & Spray Tanning, we believe there is a direct relationship between the amount of UVB a bed or booth emits and the quality of the tan. Many "mom and pop" salons out there feature beds that emit as high as 75% UVB rays! (STAND) UV & Spray Tanning features no booth that emits any higher than 8% UVB. There is a GREAT disparity in quality of tans when using "high end" equipment compared with "low-end" or "entry level" equipment (used by many low budget salons). With high quality equipment your tan will be brown, not red, and it will be deeper, darker and richer. It will also last longer. Remember, the main reason you go to a tanning salon is to get a quality tan. Before signing a membership contract or giving a salon your business, you should always thoroughly evaluate a salon's equipment to ensure you'll be getting the best results possible.

One of the benefits to our stand-up booths are how fast they are! Customers can get in and out of our salon in less than 10 minutes. Fit a tanning session into a lunch break or while running errands. Just finished at the gym and have a few minutes to spare before you need to worry about dinner? Stop on by and we'll get you in and out ASAP. 

Interested in a job with (STAND) UV & Spray Tanning? We're always looking for qualified applicants for sales associate positions. Please stop by any of our salons during business hours to pick-up an application, or visit our employment page. Ideally we're seeking high school graduates with outgoing, dynamic personalities and flexible schedules. We employ full and part time positions, and our hiring needs are always changing throughout the year. Applicants should have some previous experience with indoor tanning and should love to tan! 

Visit our pricing page here. You can also find our up to date list of monthly specials here and see our daily specials here.

When a tanner speaks about their local "tanning bed", they're usually talking about a small "Mom & Pop" establishment, often with a low number of tanning units (anywhere from 6 - 10 tanning beds). Few of these businesses have stand-up units, and most of the lay-down beds they do have emit anywhere from 50 - 75% UVB rays (which drastically increases a tanner's chances of burning). Many of these salons are underfunded, and it's not uncommon for them to shut down without notice to their customers, often without giving refunds for prepaid tans.  

Visiting a (STAND) UV & Spray Tanning tanning salon is a completely different experience. We distinguish ourselves from "the local tanning bed" by featuring all stand-up units, which are faster, cleaner and contain lower UVB rays than most lay-down beds. (STAND) UV & Spray Tanning salons are franchised businesses, with high national standards for equipment maintenance, cleanliness and customer service. Each of the Atlanta area (STAND) UV & Spray Tanning tanning salons are locally owned and operated, with a manager or assistant manager on duty at least 6 days per week.

To call us a "tanning bed" is obviously a misnomer. We don't even have any beds! We pride ourselves on striking the word "bed" from our vocabulary, and proudly refer to each of our locations as a TANNING SALON.

Sunburns occur when the skin is exposed to excessive amounts of UV light. The severity can vary from mild pink with only minor discomfort to severe "lobster-red" burns that blister. Sunburn results when the amount of exposure to the sun or other ultraviolet light source exceeds the ability of the body's protective pigment, melanin, to protect the skin. Sunburn is better prevented than treated. Apply sunscreen 20 minutes prior to exposure to the sun and re-apply every hour. Sunscreen is EXTREMELY important when you are outdoors. It is easier to prevent sunburn and maintain beautiful bronze color when tanning indoors rather than outdoors because indoor tanning regulates the amount of time and UV exposure you will receive.

White spots, also known as tinea versicolor or "Tanner's Rash", is a superficial overgrowth of skin-surface yeast, and becomes more evident when your skin is darker after you've been exposed to moisture. It's usually worse after a trip to the gym or a day spent lying out at the beach or pool.

The good news is that while it's pesky, it's VERY easy to get rid of it!

TREATMENT: Please note, this is NOT medical advice... however our (STAND) UV & Spray Tanning of Atlanta "Tanner's Rash Treatment" has been shown to get rid of this pesky rash in as little as a week! It's a 3 step process:

1. Apply HALT (sold in the salons for $15 plus tax) 2-3 times per day to the effected area(s). This will work on getting rid of the rash, however the skin tone will likely still be uneven, as UV light does not pass through the rash (hence the white complexion).
2. Tan 3 times within 1 week in any UV booth (the HT42 for darker skin, the HT54 or 60 for fairer skin)
3. Ten minutes prior to tanning, apply a TINGLE based lotion just on the effected area(s). We recommend a tingle lotion such as Paparrazi or Chocolat Ice, both sold in packets and bottles. TINGLES produce a somewhat "interesting" sensation to the skin, and can be difficult for some people to endure over their entire bodies. Using this just on the areas effected by the rash is usually very tolerable.

After a week you should notice the tanner's rash is almost if not completely gone! Some skin types require more tanning sessions to help even out the skin tone... it simply matters how long you've had the rash and how much outdoor tanning you did during that time.

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More technical information: Tinea versicolor is actually a fungus called Pityrosporum Orbiculare. This overgrowth results in uneven skin color with occasional scaling. This naturally occurring yeast normally lives in the pores of everyone's skin and likes fat (lipophilic); therefore, it is most often present on areas that have more oil glands, such as the shoulders, back and chest. However, it also can appear on the arms, legs and groin and, in rare cases, on the face.

Basically, if the skin is oily enough, moist enough and warm enough, this fungus will grow on the surface of the skin and cause a noticeable rash. The spots may be light or reddish brown in color or can appear lighter than the surrounding skin. The spots will not tan. As a result, the condition is more apparent in the summer months due to increased sun exposure; the affected areas may seem to disappear or become slightly darker in the winter as the surrounding skin becomes paler. The same is true from exposure to UV in a tanning unit. The areas with tinea versicolor won't tan and become noticeable as lighter spots of untanned skin.

The darker a person's skin type or tan is, the more noticeable the condition will be. Factors such as heat, humidity, sweat, tight-fitting clothes and chronic illness can predispose an individual to tinea versicolor, but these factors do not need to be present for someone to get the infection. Additionally, tinea versicolor is most common in adolescents and young adults, but it can happen at any age. Although this condition may be unsightly and can cause itching, it is not a serious threat to one's health-but it is chronic and easily can recur. The condition is not contagious.

The infection is treated with topical or oral medications. Non-prescription antifungal creams work well in less-severe cases, while prescription antifungal lotions and sprays may be more appropriate for tougher cases. You can also use a selenium shampoo, such as Selsun Blue. Typically, individuals suffering from the infection are advised to wash their bodies with the shampoo as if it were soap, leave it on a few minutes before rinsing and repeat this process for a specified number of days. Oral medication may be prescribed for severe or recurrent cases.

Regardless of the treatment method, the infection may return. To reduce this likelihood, individuals often are instructed to re-treat once a week for three to four weeks and then once a month for three to four months. After treatment, all clothing and bedding should be laundered to help prevent recurrence.

Even after completion of successful treatment, the patches will remain visible until the untanned skin has a chance to catch up with the surrounding area through subsequent tanning sessions. This will take a while; customers can use self-tanner, tingles or bronzer lotions to even out those white spots in the meantime.

We recommend clients with any medical concerns see their physicians or pharmacists for advice.

From Sunless.com: The debate over whether sunless tanners are safe to use during pregnancy isn't finished yet. The concern some doctors have is over whether or not the active ingredient, dihydroxyacetone or DHA, is able to penetrate the skin. The indications are that it cannot. But some doctors ask their pregnant patients not to use sunless tanners in the first trimester to play it safe. Therefore, you should ask your doctor.

If DHA could penetrate the skin and enter the bloodstream, there is no doubt that would be undesirable. Of course, it wouldn't be undesirable just during pregnancy, but at any time. DHA has been in use as a cosmetic ingredient in the U.S. since 1960 and no problems have ever been reported concerning DHA penetrating the skin, or causing problems during pregnancy. The reason concern remains is that advances have been made in the cosmetic industry in developing ingredients that help other ingredients to penetrate the skin better. This applies not only to sunless tanners but moisturizers and other products.

If you have an appointment for a custom airbrush session please prepare yourself by visiting SprayTanNow.com. To prepare for a no-appointment Instant Tan powered by Mystic session:

1. Before the session:
   • Exfoliate! The night before you come in for your Mystic Tan, clear away any dry, dead skin cells with an exfoliating scrub, such as Mystic Tan Base Exfoliator (sold in (STAND) UV & Spray Tanning of Atlanta salons).
   • Any waxing or shaving should be completed 24 hours prior to the session.
   • The day of the session, do not apply anything to the skin that may act as a barrier between the sunles solution and the skin. No lotions, creams or perfumes prior to the session. Use deodorant sparingly.
   • Remove any make-up prior to sunless application.
   • Wear loose fitting dark clothing and remove jewelry. Tight clothing can rub or smear bronzers, especially around the knees, elbows and waist.
2. What do I wear during the session?
   • You have total privacy, so you may wear underwear, a bathing suit or opt for no tan lines at all.
   • Do not wear silk, satin or nylon as the solution may stain these fabrics.
3. How long will my tan last?
   • Clients can expect 5-8 days of gorgeous "just off the beach" color with proper maintenance. Even fading makes for complete customer satisfaction.