| Pros and Cons of Tanning Salons |
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By Jill Burcum
Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune With spring break under way or just around the corner and swimsuit season close behind, tanning salons seem to offer an easy cure for pale, white winter skin. But before plunking down the $5 to $10 typically charged for each session, it's worth noting that the debate over tanning beds' safety is perhaps more heated than it's ever been. On one side is the U.S. indoor tanning industry, with 28,000 salons, which claims that the beds are safer than actual sunlight. On the other are 11,000 of the nation's dermatologists. Long opposed to the use of tanning beds, these medical specialists recently issued calls for greater regulation of tanning beds and even outright bans. For consumers caught in the middle of the debate, these organizations do agree on one point: People considering tanning beds should arm themselves with knowledge before deciding whether or not to tan. "It's a matter of education," said Dr. Martin Weinstock, a spokesman for the American Academy of Dermatology and a professor of dermatology at Brown University School of Medicine in Rhode Island. As longtime adversaries, doctors and the tanning industry have plenty of information available. The International Smart Tan Network, a trade association affiliated with the Indoor Tanning Association, sets out its position on its Web site at www.smarttan.com. In addition, the organization has a toll-free number for information on tanning beds: 1-800-652-3269. The American Academy of Dermatology also provides extensive information at its Web site: www.aad.org. Information is also available on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Web site at www.fda.gov, which also warns consumers about the dangers of tanning beds. In evaluating the information from both sides, it's helpful to understand how tanning beds work. Essentially, they use ultraviolet radiation -- ultraviolet A (UVA) or ultraviolet B (UVB), the type of radiation in sunlight -- to darken skin. The radiation is emitted from tubular bulbs in the machine that surround the user, who lies inside the clamshell-like tanning bed. According to medical textbooks, UVB primarily affects the outer layer of the skin, while UVA penetrates deeper. Both, however, stimulate the production of the skin pigment melanin. Melanin is manufactured to protect skin from the ultraviolet rays in sunlight. It's also what makes moles look brown and gives people with darker skin their color. It's at this point that the views of the doctors and the industry begin to diverge. The tanning industry claims that the tanning has health benefits -- such as stimulating production of vitamin D -- and can help protect against sun damage and premature aging by helping the skin build up its protection against sunburn. "Moderate tanning for individuals who can develop a tan is the best way to maximize the benefits of sun exposure while minimizing the risk of either too much or too little exposure," said Joe Levy, vice president of the Smart Tan Network in Jackson, Mich. Many salons and manufacturers say the radiation emitted by bulbs is less harmful than natural sunlight. Dermatologists take issue with the industry's information. At the heart of the doctors' argument is the position that no tan is a good tan. Weinstock says that UVA or UVB radiation does help the body produce vitamin D, which plays a key role in building bones, but that most people need only minutes of daily sunlight exposure to a small part of the body to produce all that's needed. All the attention paid to vitamin D, dermatologists say, obscures the most important information about UVA and UVB radiation: Both types cause genetic damage in skin cells, helping set the stage for cancer cells to develop and spread. Long-term exposure to UVA and UVB causes other damage -- wrinkles, age spots and changes in texture and thickness - by drying out skin and weakening its connective tissues. Weinstock said that studies link UV exposure with various types of skin cancer. More than 1 million people nationwide will develop skin cancer this year, according to the American Cancer Society. Although more research is needed, he said, "the only people who oppose this ... are people with an economic advantage from promoting tanning or those who are not acquainted with the literature." Doctors also disagree with claims that exposure to moderate amounts of radiation helps protect skin from burning and aging. It might provide some protection against burning, said Dr. Peter Lee, a University of Minnesota professor of dermatology. But by getting a glow, you've already damaged the skin. "The horse is already out of the barn," Lee said. "You now have sun damage that could potentially lead to skin cancer." Lee and Dr. Bruce Bart, a dermatologist at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, also dismiss industry claims that tanning beds are safe because they don't produce UVC radiation. While potentially deadly to space travelers, UVC rarely penetrates the Earth's atmosphere, he said. "It might be an issue at the polar ice caps, but not anywhere else," he said. Lee, Bart and other dermatologists tell patients that while it's unrealistic to avoid all UVA and UVB radiation, limiting it is important. They recommend that patients protect themselves from the sun with clothing. Sunscreen with a protection factor of at least 30 should be applied to areas left uncovered. Levy, of the indoor tanning trade association, says the dermatologists' positions are unrealistic and extreme. Studies on UV radiation and melanoma aren't as straightforward as doctors say they are, he said, adding that some studies show that genetic susceptibility may play an even greater role than sun exposure. In addition, he said, doctors dismiss too easily the natural role that tanning plays in protecting skin from the sun. "They're oversimplifying the issue," Levy said. At the same time, however, Levy said the industry recognizes the need to use UV radiation with caution. It supports increased and more uniform regulations (which currently vary by location), he said, and regularly advises tanning bed operators to advise customers of UV radiation risks. (Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.shns.com)
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