AAD Targets Tanners

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recently adopted an anti-tanning stance so vigorous it’s like nothing the indoor tanning industry has recently seen. It’s a print ad and TV campaign specifically aimed at teenagers. The ads, which read “Tanning Is 4 Losers”, “Tanning Beds Can B Like Asking For Skin Cancer”, and “R U Using Tanning Beds? Don’t B Stupid”, came out just as the heat has been turned up in state Legislatures to prohibit teen tanning in 2007.

From the AAD’s Web site: “On an average day, more than one million Americans tan in tanning salons. Of the customers, 70 percent are Caucasian girls and women, aged 16 to 49 years. These numbers continue to rise each year, despite research which demonstrates the risks of indoor tanning, including premature aging such as age spots and wrinkles, and even worse, the danger of skin cancer. To help educate the public, particularly teenagers, the Academy’s 2006-2007 skin cancer public service advertisement (PSA) campaign speaks to teens in a language they can understand, instant messaging (IM). Approximately 53 million American computer users—most of them teens—use IMs. Many exchange IMs more frequently than e-mail. It has a language all its own, and the Academy has developed this campaign specifically for teens who use it.”

The campaign consists of television, radio, print and Internet advertisements that highlight the risks of skin cancer and skin damage that indoor tanning can cause.

This seems to be a big push from anti-tanning groups to restrict teenage tanning. The typical pattern is for them to argue that those between ages 14 and 18 need parental consent, and no tanning should be allowed for those under age 14.

How would your business be affected if those under age 14 were not allowed to tan? My guess is that it would affect a very small percentage of salon businesses, but the anti-tanning zealots seem to think that we are grabbing school kids off the streets and forcing them to tan!

Furthermore, these anti-tanners also still advocate staying in the shade between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. What are parents of outdoor active kids supposed to do? No outside sports? No recess at school? No spring break to sunny locations? No summer at the beach?

Unfortunately for the AAD and others, you can’t legislate the sun. And given the choice (once the decision is made) to obtain a tan, indoor tanning is still the best way to practice controlled, responsible, tanning in moderation. 

For more information on Light Sources tanning products, visit www.lsitanning.com. If you have a question that you would like answered in this forum, e-mail joe_lsi@bellsouth.net.