Periodically, the anti-tanning groups put a new spin on their attack on indoor tanning. As our season kicks off around the U.S., let’s take a look at recent offerings from those on “the dark side.”
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Point: “Year-round UV exposure is essential for vitamin D and good health. Most skin cancers are caused by harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun or from UV tanning machines. It’s the UVB rays that interact with a protein in the skin to convert it into vitamin D. Tanning beds mostly emit UVA rays, which won’t improve your vitamin D level. Most people get enough vitamin D from incidental sun exposure on the face and hands in just a few minutes a day. For those in northern climates in the winter, fortified foods and a supplement can fill in the gaps. Additional UV exposure over the minimum does not further increase vitamin D levels, but it certainly increases your risk for skin cancer.”
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The following comments are shared to rebuke these statements and not for promotion of indoor tanning services.
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Counterpoint #1: I love how they call sunbeds “tanning machines.” Well, as we all know (or should know, if you’ve taken Sun is Life® Certification), U.S. indoor tanning businesses have been regulated by the Food and Drug Administration’s 21 CFR1040.20 (accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=1040.20) since the inception of our industry. Currently, UV tanning systems are listed as a Class II medical device for cosmetic tanning. Salon operators should not make any claim that weakens the warning statement on tanning beds and booths, including medical and health-related statements. The Federal Trade Commission monitors any such claims from our industry. I get it, and so should you – no health claims in the promotion of indoor tanning services! That being said, there is no doubt that studies show sunbeds emitting UVB light stimulate production of vitamin D3 in the skin.
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Here’s another source of info: Sunbeds with UVB radiation can produce physiological levels of serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D in healthy volunteers Samantha M. Kimball, Jasmine Lee and Reinhold Vieth (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5821157/)
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Counterpoint #2: Fortified foods and supplements can fill in the gaps? Really? Well, apparently that message isn’t getting out! More than 40% of Americans are vitamin D deficient. The potential health consequences include osteoporosis, heart disease, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, high blood pressure and poor pregnancy outcomes.
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One of the foremost vitamin D researchers, Dr. Michael Holick, has authored several strong studies stating the case for UV exposure to ward off vitamin D deficiency. I’ve had the pleasure of introducing Dr. Holick at a tanning industry event several years ago and still periodically communicate with him. He’s a great guy with an incredible passion for his work.
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Read more from Holick at: academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/87/4/1080S/4633477
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Also, take a look at the TH Chan Harvard report on vitamin D.
(harvard.edu/nutritionsource/vitamin-d/#vitamin-d-and-heart-disease)
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Counterpoint #3: “… Additional UV exposure over the minimum does not further increase vitamin D levels …” Well, hello? Nobody said it did! The main issue here is that the Anti-tans want to refute that year-round exposure to UV is essential to good health.
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Remember, indoor tanning provides a controlled environment to obtain a cosmetic tan with sessions delivered according to individual skin type and a timer that minimizes the risk of overexposure and sunburn.
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Team IST searches for erroneous, suspect or negative reporting by the media that adversely impacts the tanning industry. Reports such as these have plagued tanning businesses for decades. Although the media sources will seldom admit a falsehood and print a retraction, IST offers these well-crafted responses to the negative reports that can be shared with your customers and potential customers, alike.
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