Health

How Do Indoor Tanning Facilities Teach Sunburn Prevention?

The indoor tanning industry is at the forefront in educating people how to successfully avoid sunburn over the course of one’s life. In fact, studies of indoor tanners have shown consistently that indoor tanning customers, once they begin tanning in a professional salon, are up to 81 percent less likely to sunburn than they were before they started tanning.

Consider that sunburn incidence in the general population has been steadily increasing. Sunburn increased 9 percent from 1986-1996, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), and the sub-group most likely to burn was older men.

We believe that teaching people strictly to avoid the sun may be making them more likely to sunburn when they do go outside for summer activities – and everyone does go outdoors at some point.
Consider:

    1. Tanning is your body’s natural defense mechanism against sunburn. Indoor tanners have activated this defense against burning; non-tanners are more vulnerable when they inevitably do go outdoors.
    2. Indoor tanners are educated at professional tanning facilities how to avoid sunburn outdoors, how to use sunscreens appropriately and how to properly moisturize their skin.

When you also consider that the majority of people who sunburn are male, according to the AAD, and that 65-70 percent of indoor tanning customers are female, clearly, it is non-tanners who are doing most of the burning outdoors. In the war against sunburn, tanning salons are part of the solution. Those who abstain from sun exposure completely are more likely to sunburn when they inevitably do go outdoors, even if they attempt to wear sunscreen.

Why Indoor Tanning Is “Smart Tanning”

Indoor tanning, for individuals who can tan, is an intelligent way to minimize the risk of contracting sunburn while maximizing the enjoyment and benefit of having a tan. Again, we call this SMART TANNING because tanners are taught by trained tanning facility personnel how their skin type reacts to sunlight and how to avoid sunburn outdoors, as well as in a salon.

Tanning in a professional facility today minimizes risk because commercial tanning salons in the United States and in most Canadian provinces are regulated by the government. In the United States, exposure times for every tanning session are established by a schedule present on every piece of equipment that takes into account the tanner’s skin type and the intensity of the equipment to deliver a dosage of sunlight designed to minimize the risk of sunburn. The schedule, regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, also takes into account how long an individual has been tanning, increasing exposure times gradually to minimize the possibility of burning.

That kind of control is impossible outdoors, where variables including seasonality, time of day, weather conditions, reflective surfaces and altitude all make outdoor tanning a random act and sunburn prevention more difficult.

Resources

Here are some websites you can go to for further information:

The Positive Effects of UV Exposure

Nature’s Skin Protection

It is commonly known that our natural tanning process provides protection against burning. Unlike some sunscreens, a tan provides reliable, full-spectrum (UV-A / UV-B) protection from burning. Your natural tan offers protection that doesn’t rub, sweat or wear off the way sun screen lotion can.

Prevention of Some Cancers

People who live in regions with more sunlight have been found to have a lower incidence of death from ovarian, breast and colon cancers than those who live in places with less sunlight.

Other Causes of Skin Cancer

High fat diets have been linked to a higher incidence of the most common forms of skin cancer — non-melanoma. In one medical study, patients with pre-cancerous lesions were found to develop fewer lesions after switching to a low fat diet compared with those who remained on a higher fat diet.

Vitamin D, Osteoporosis Prevention

Sunlight and sun-tanning beds that emit UV-B are reliable sources of vitamin D. Vitamin D is necessary for our bodies to use the calcium we get in our diet. This vitamin is found in few foods. One study showed that vitamin D was largely lacking in the fortified milk supply in the U.S. Your skin produces vitamin D naturally when exposed to sunlight. A sunscreen of SPF 8 or higher has been found to disable and halt the skin’s ability to produce vitamin D.

Seasonal Depression Therapy

Sunlight and simulated sunlight “doses” are a successful treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder, known as the “winter blues.” Sunlight exposure has been found to improve low winter moods. Indoor lighting, on the other hand, is generally perceived by the brain as near darkness.

Reduce Symptoms of PMS

Exposure to bright light has been found to help alleviate some symptoms of Pre Menstrual Syndrome, such as mild depression and mood swings, irritability, physical discomfort, and social withdrawal.

A Strong Biological Clock For Optimal Health

Having well-synchronized circadian rhythms, or biological clock, results in a better quality sleep, daytime alertness, and optimal health in general. The more sunlight exposure you get during the day, the more in-sync with your environment your circadian rhythms will be.

Psoriasis Treatment

Exposure to UV-light is commonly prescribed by doctors to alleviate the unsightly appearance and discomfort of psoriasis. Drugs such as psoralens have been developed to work in conjunction with UV-light treatments. Those with psoriasis should consult their doctor before proceeding with any treatment program.

Jet Lag Prevention

“Doses” of sunlight or simulated sunlight timed carefully upon arrival in a new time zone, can re-set your body’s biological clock resulting in less day time drowsiness and better quality nighttime sleep.

Smart Tan Certification

All of our tanning associates are smart tan certified. The smart tan certification is the benchmark for professional indoor tanning training. With the highest qualification standards in the industry, Smart Tan’s certification program is recognized nationwide and approved in all states that require training. The program is updated annually, and is internationally recognized as an excellent resource. Certification provides the knowledge that every tanning operator needs:

  • Tanning History
  • The Science of Tanning
  • Ultraviolet Light and Health
  • Skin Type Assessment
  • Minimizing the Health Risks of Tanning
  • Indoor Tanning Equipment
  • Tanning Law
  • Salon Professionalism