GOOD NEWS 2007

Ten years ago there was only a trickle of articles about the benefits of vitamin D and virtually none about the benefits of sensible, moderate and responsible exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Five years ago the number of articles changed from a trickle to a small stream, and today there is a raging river of articles about the beneficial effects of attaining/ maintaining an optimal level of vitamin D. Sadly, there are still very few articles acknowledging the incontrovertible benefits of sensible, moderate and responsible exposure to UVR, and almost none (other than indoor tanning industry publications) informing the public about the advantages of controlled UVR exposure available only at an indoor tanning salon.

This new series keeps members of the indoor tanning industry up-to-date regarding the latest scientific articles showing that, in fact, there are numerous benefits of sensible, moderate and responsible exposure to UVR, especially in the controlled and convenient environment of an indoor tanning salon.

We will do our part by researching and writing these articles, but you must do your part by copying and sending them to your local media outlets. Perhaps a joint effort will result in a “grassroots” movement that will educate and inform the American public (and the media) about the incontrovertible benefits of sensible, moderate and responsible exposure to UVR.

What would you pay for a new drug that promised to make you feel more balanced, less nervous, stronger and more satisfied with your appearance? Needless to say, the stock price of a pharmaceutical company with a new drug that could produce these benefits would go through the roof and millions of people would be asking their doctor to prescribe this new wonder drug.

Who wouldn’t want to enjoy the psychological benefits of feeling more balanced, less nervous and more strengthened? It is well known that the cosmetics industry is built on the premise that makeup and personal care products impart a psychological benefit by increasing users’ satisfaction with their appearance—much like indoor tanning.

That is why a 2002 article that appeared in BMC Dermatology titled “Impact of UVA Exposure on Psychological Parameters and Circulating Serotonin and Melatonin” by Gambichler, et al, from the Department of Dermatology at Ruhr University in Borchum, Germany is so important for our industry.

The authors concluded that “UVAexposed volunteers felt significantly more balanced, less nervous, more strengthened and more satisfied with their appearance” after only six sessions in a commercial sunbed (Ergoline 450) utilizing commercially available (Wolff Solarium Plus) sunlamps. [Note: Although the authors refer to the sunlamps as “UVA” because they only have approximately 1 percent UVB, they should have referred to them as ‘UVR” because they are emitting both UVB and UVA photons.] A detailed examination of the data showed that, although the above conclusion was very positive, keep in mind that it was very conservative because when feelings of calmness, balance and strength/weakness were considered, there was a 66-percent improvement in the test subjects, i.e., those who had had the six tanning sessions (15-minute sessions for Skin Type 2s and 20-minute sessions for Skin Type 3s) over a three-week period when compared to the control subjects, i.e., those who had not had the six tanning sessions.

Moreover, the authors concluded that the volunteers exposed to UVR were “significantly more satisfied” with their appearance. Can you imagine what the results would have been if the study had been continued for a longer period?

Interestingly, and predictably, the authors (who are dermatologists) tried to minimize these positive results by saying: “We cannot rule out that these psychological benefits were due to the slight tan that the UVA volunteers experienced.”

What difference does it make whether the psychological benefits were caused by an increase in circulating serotonin and melatonin or the improvement in their looks because of the “slight tan” they experienced? The important thing to keep in mind is that the psychological improvement was quick and dramatic and induced by sensible moderate and responsible exposure to UVR in a commercially available sunbed with commercially available sunlamps. In other words, the same results could be achieved in any indoor tanning salon in the world.

More importantly, the cost of the tanning sessions required to induce these benefits would be miniscule in contrast to the cost of accomplishing the same results (if they could be accomplished) by taking expensive “mood-enhancing” prescription drugs.

The next time a local dermatologist claims that there are no benefits from sensible, moderate and responsible exposure to UVR and/or that sunbeds are the “devil’s tool” here on earth, send him/ her (and your local media) a copy of this article. It will be very interesting to see them try to argue with the authors of this study who are well-known and respected research dermatologists.

Make copies of this article for your existing clients so they can read about the valid scientific reasons that explain why they feel better when they tan year-round. Ask them to read it and pass it along to a friend who might benefit from feeling more balanced, less nervous, more strengthened and more satisfied with their appearance. 

Patricia E. Reykdal owns and operates four tanning salons in Tucson, Ariz. Her husband, Donald L. Smith, is director of research of the Non-Ionizing Radiation Research Institute. Together, they have written more than 200 articles promoting sensible, moderate and responsible exposure to ultraviolet radiation. You can e-mail them your comments or questions to reyksmith@aol.com.