Fact Or Fiction? Part 2

Last month, I delved into three of the most prevalent inaccuracies surrounding the indoor tanning industry. This month I present three more to add to the myth collection; feel free to copy them for handouts to your tanners or post this article in your salon. Some are new; some are old—nonetheless, all are inaccurate.

Myth 4: The idea that getting a base tan or “pre-tan” is helpful in preventing later sunburn, as some tanning salons claim, is misleading.

A base tan obtained from a tanning unit actually can provide an SPF of 2 to 4. However, people continue to bask in sunlight despite the efforts to inform them about the hazards of overexposure. Millions of individuals flock to Florida beaches and other sunny locations for spring break and expose themselves to strong doses of UV from the sun. They simply do not heed advice to use proper amounts of SPF lotion and reapply throughout the day to avoid burning. One 8-ounce bottle only will provide two full-body applications when properly used.

Based upon interviews with Florida spring breakers, they seek a tan regardless of potential sunburn. Their reasoning is that they spend a lot of money to vacation and want to go home with color. That mindset, when coupled with the assumption that having a base tan “protects” the tanner against sunburn, only leads to overexposure and a greater chance of burning.

Although one fatality is one too many, the fact remains that an estimated 153,000 women will die this year from breast cancer while an estimated 8,000 men and women may die from melanoma—90 percent of whom will be over age 45.

One factor to consider regarding skin cancer incidence is that it may be attributed to the success of public health messages preaching sun awareness from sources like the American Cancer Society, the Skin Cancer Foundation and the American Academy of Dermatology.

Practically every beauty magazine runs at least one article about sun exposure and the use of SPF lotions; these articles often are pushed heavily by advertisers—such as Lancôme, Estée Lauder and Schering- Plough—whose lotions, makeup and sunscreens with SPFs have created a billion-dollar industry.

Undoubtedly, the more people hear and see these messages, the more inclined they are to go to dermatologists for screenings. In fact, there are currently more people visiting dermatologists for skin cancer screenings than in the past 10 to 20 years because they are beginning to understand the benefits of screening and early detection.

At the same time, it is important to note that the increase in the number of people getting tested impacts the diagnosis rate of skin cancer. However, it is only the rising statistics of incidence that make the headlines, with no mention of the relationship to the number of people being screened. Doubt me? Just ask your parents how many times they have been screened for skin cancer.

The implication is that you received a fungus from an unsanitized tanning unit, but what the doctor probably didn’t explain is that the fungus (or sun spot) probably existed on your epidermis (or top layer of skin) before you even used the bed. The exposure to UV light exacerbated the dormant fungus, making it readily apparent. These sun spots typically can be treated with an over-the-counter medication from a local pharmacist.

Remember to promote responsible tanning, tanning indoors in moderation and avoidance of overexposure. 

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