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3, 2005
I
TIJe CL SiC Tan
According to an article in the American Journal of Health Studies,
more than a million Americans use tanning booths every day, and in
the winter, that number increases. As Tanfastic tanning technician
Amanda Kenea said, "We have a rush of customers when class begins
in January that continues until Easter."
Often, people tan right before spring break in order to build up
base tan before going to a warm location such as Mexico or
the Caribbean.
Tanning is not exclusively for women; according to
Kenea, about 40 percent of Tanfastic's business comes from men. Of
course, the most typical way to tan is in tanning booths or beds that
deliver concentrated ultraviolet radiation to the tanner. Both Tanfas-
tic, located at 627 Main St., and Campus Tan, located at 611 Church
St., offer these conventional options.
"Tanning in beds is what most people do to build up tans," Kenea
said. But just because the beds and booths are easily available does
not mean that anyone should walk in to a store on the spur of the
moment, unprepared to go tanning.
Tannins 9p t!1 ips
One of the most important things to consider is eyewear.
According to regulations from the FDA, tanning salons must
direct all customers to wear protective eye goggles (it is the
customer's responsibility to wear them).
This does not mean picking up sunglasses from the near-
est Meijer's, closing your eyes or using cotton wads - all
of which do not protect the cornea from the intensity of UV
radiation in tanning devices. At Tanfastic, they provide
stickers which screen out UV rays or goggles to their cus-
tomers, as well as selling other eyewear options.
Customers should also consider using a tanning-acceler-
ating lotion, which can be purchased at most tanning salons.
While not necessary, lotion helps moisturize the skin and,
according to lotion companies, helps maintain the tan for
longer periods of time. Tanning without a lotion is "kind of
like shaving without shaving lotion," Kenea said.
Most of all, customers should investigate the practices of
the tanning salons. Tanning salons should disinfect the tan-
ning beds after each customer, since germs can be transmi
ted by contact with the beds.
Customers should also check to find out whether the
tanning equipment allows them to tan every 24 hours
or 48 hours - going more frequently than these
time periods can be hazardous.
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Tanning is a controversial issue, and the American Can- Drug Administration.
cer Society and many health care professionals decry it as Despite these risks, tanning is still very common, and not
fiercely as members of the field protect it. But ACS warns just because of the healthy glow it creates.
that indoor tanning is not a safe alternative to outdoor tan- Nadine Galvraith, an employee at Tanfastic, agrees. "I tan
ning because of its release of "dangerously high levels" of for relaxation," she said, "I don't tan to tan."
UV radiation. Galvraith's experience is unexceptional, according to a
The ACS website explains that short-term exposure study released last July by researchers at Wake Forest Uni-
to indoor tanning equipment can cause itchy, dry skin, versity. The study found that participants who were exposed
while long-term exposure can cause wrinkled skin. In to UV light reporterd "a more relaxed and less tense mood"
addition, tanning beds can cause eye damage, and also afterward, compared to participants in a non-UV tanning
weaken the immune system. bed.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, some Tanning has been shown to alleviate seasonal affective
prescription drugs - including birth control pills disorder. This is connected to heliotherapy, another oft-cited
- can cause photosensitivity, leading to burns and benefit of indoor tanning. Heliotherapy is the treatment of
rashes while tanning. Other common prescription disease by exposing the body to sunlight.
drugs and cosmetics also affect photosensitivity. Tanning also provides vitamin D to the body, Kenea said.
But the AJHS article states that combining "In the wintertime, you don't get much of it," she added.
ndoor tanning with sunbathing further increase a TIn addition to those benefits,.the Indoor Tanning Asso-
person's cumulative exposure to ultraviolet radia- ciation says on their website that UV rays provide vitamin D
nn and the potential risk of skin cancer. which helps the body con-
The article also says that tanning devices gener- trol abnormal cell growth
ate more than five times the solar UVA radiation as well as help the body pro- According to an a
d at the equator. duce serotonin and endor- Journal
Many people tan to prevent burning on a tropi- _phins, resulting in positive of_ t
cal vacation. However, the AJHS article said that feelings and even increased a milliOn
according to medical professionals, indoor tans sex drive. ta-ningboot
3 "do not provide a safe 'base' tan nor increase pro- But the FDA does not rec-
ion from sunlight." In fact, an indoor tan pro- ognize any health benefits the winter, thai
vides a SPF of 2 or 3, according to the Food and from tanning...
For those who want more than just UVA rays, Campus
Tan offers the "Oxygen Tan," which essentially consists
of a customer tanning in a bed while breathing concen-
trated oxygen.
There are other sunless options as well. Tanfastic
offers the "Mystic Tan," which sprays sunless tanner
all over your body for 60 seconds. While Kenea and
Galvraith both said that the "Mystic Tan" was popular,
there are drawbacks.
"Mystic Tan does not protect you from'the sun, and the
sunless tanner can come off in chlorine," said Kenea.
Also, according to FDA Consumer magazine, the
spray consists of the color additive dihydroxyacetone
and should not be sprayed in or on the mouth, eyes or
nose, which is difficult to prevent in a booth.
Roberts, who had a negative experience with sprayed-
on tanning booths,
said, "I've done it
e in the American before, and it's scary.
idies, more than You're not supposed
to breathe, butthere's
ricans use no way you can't
breathe."
affordable. Roberts recommended Neutrogena
Sunless Tanning Foam with Bronzer. Nev-
ertheless, she cautioned that with over-the-
counter sunless tanners, "You have to have
patience, and you kind of look orange rig
after you apply it."
If all the tanning methods seem too
much of a bother before an exotic spring
break trip, make sure to pack sunscreen
and be aware of what SPF 30 actu
does to prevent burning.
SPF numbers are indictors of
long a person can stay in the sun
without burning and are different
for each person.
SPF 15 blocks 95 percent of UVB
rays. And while sunscreens do
tect you from UVB rays, they can-
not cofripletely protect you from
UVA rays. Reapplication is neces-
sary to ensure proper protection.
InTheend, des5tre the
of some types of tanning, many
students choose the allure of a
browned skin tone to stand ou
the sea of Michigan paleness.
rtic
h Stu
Ame
rhs every day, and in
t number increases.
Many over-the-coun-
ter sunless tanners
are also available and
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~A~A ~
PETER SCHOTTENFELS/Daily
e at Campus Tan on Church Street. Many
of lotions to prevent dry skin and burning.
One of Campus Tan's stand-up tanning booths. The sa
tanning and traditional beds.
PETER SCHOTTENFELS/Daily PETER SCHOTTENFELS/Daily
alon offers both stand-up Campus Tan offers a treatment called "Oxygen Tan," where customers can breathe in concentrated
oxygen while tanning in a bed. A variety of flavors is available.