Frequently Asked Questions

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Can sun exposure actually help prevent cancer? (answer)
Why do we always hear that tanning is bad? (answer)
But isn't any tan a sign of damage to your skin?(answer)
So is skin cancer a concern then?(answer)
Why is it important to develop a base tan?(answer)
Why does a tan disappear?(answer)
A 20 minute tan is equivalent to how many hours in the sun?(answer)
How does the depletion of the ozone layer affect us? (answer)
Can the UV rays emitted by indoor tanning lamps pass through the skin and affect internal organs?(answer)
Is it harmful to wear contact lenses when tanning indoors?(answer)
Why do some people itch after tanning indoors? (answer)
What causes white spots?(answer)
If the sun is so bad for me then why does it make me feel so good? (answer)
From what I am hearing lately, it seems we will all have skin cancer at some point. What is the real risk? (answer)
If I already have a base tan, do I really need to use sunscreens when I'm outdoors? (answer)

Can sun exposure actually help prevent cancer?
It's true. Studies indicating that this relationship exists need to be considered. Many different researches have shown that regular moderate sun exposure may play a role in preventing several kinds of cancers, including colon and breast cancers, which claim hundreds of thousands of lives annually. Several studies have shown that Vitamin D, whose only reliable source for humans comes from sunshine, may play a role in retarding or arresting pre-cancerous cells in the body from reproducing. Indeed, we have known for decades that overall cancer rates are significantly higher in sun-deprived parts of the world.

Why do we always hear that tanning is bad?
Why are they crying wolf?
The almighty dollar. The fear of the sun is a multibillion-dollar industry led by huge special interests who conduct most of the research on this topic and promote it as well. Lobbyists for pharmaceutical firms that sell billions of dollars of sunscreens and anti-sun cosmetics have muddied the issue by overstating the risks of sun exposure.

Conversely, there is no major industry except the indoor tanning industry that makes money by promoting the positive effects of sunshine. And the indoor tanning industry consists of smaller companies that do not match the marketing power of the of the multi-billion dollar "sunscare industry.

But isn't any tan a sign of damage to your skin?
In reporting on this topic, we hope you consider that the dermatology industry's agenda of total UV avoidance, as we mentioned earlier, seems to be increasing the incidence of sunburn which, aside from one's heredity, is undoubtedly the biggest risk factor for skin damage. They have defended their position by ignoring the fact that there are positive aspects of UV exposure and by stating that "any tan is a sign of damage." But this statement is terribly misleading. Here's why.

Tanning is your body's natural protection against sunburn it is what your body is designed to do. Calling a tan damage to your skin is like calling exercise damage to your muscles. Consider, when one exercises you are actually tearing tiny muscle fibers in your body. On the surface, that is damage. But that damage is your body's natural way of building stronger muscle tissue. So to call exercise "damaging" to muscles would be terribly deceiving.

The same can be said of sun exposure. Your body is designed to repair damage to the skin caused by ultraviolet light exposure; developing a tan is its natural way to protect against the dangers of sunburn and further exposure.

Here's how we see it: Saying that any ultraviolet light exposure causes skin damage is a dangerous oversimplification. It would be like saying that water causes drowning. Yes, water can cause drowning. But our bodies also need water; we would die without it. Similarly, we need ultraviolet light exposure; we would die without it. It is the professional indoor tanning industry's position that sunburn prevention is a more effective message than total abstinence, which ultimately encourages abuse. It is a responsible, honest approach to the issue.

So is skin cancer a concern then?
Absolutely. But it is a concern that professional indoor tanning facilities such as ours feel we addressing effectively by teaching people to tan intelligently indoors and outdoors. We feel the marketing hype behind the sun-scare message has blown the concern about this issue out of whack and has completely ignored the positive aspects of regular moderate sun exposure.

Why is it important to develop a base tan?
Moderate exposure to UVB helps develop a natural barrier in the skin to protect the body from excessive UV light. UVB stimulates the production of melanin, which then surrounds the core of cells to protect the DNA. This melanin substance absorbs and/or scatters radiation. In addition, exposure to UVB thickens the epidermis (the top layer), thereby limiting the amount of UV light, which could penetrate the lower skin layers. If this photo-protection (base tan) is not developed or a sunscreen is not used, sunburn can occur and the DNA of the skin cells may become damaged. Repeated sunburn can result in damaged cells, which then reproduce themselves. This could be the initial development of skin cancer.

Why does a tan disappear?
The "tan," or pigmentation process, occurs in the epidermis, the top skin layer. The epidermis replaces all its skin cells every 28-30 days. Cells in the inner portion of the top skin layer divide themselves, migrate to the surface, gradually die and slough off. Skin cells contain melanin, and as a result of UV exposure, rise to the surface and flake off. Therefore, a tan can be maintained only by repeated exposure to UV light.

A 20 minute tan is equivalent to how many hours in the sun?
It is difficult to make a simple comparison between the sun and modern indoor tanning equipment. Just as various kinds of indoor tanning lamps and equipment differ in spectral output and energy emitted, the sun's strength is dependent on several factors as well, such as the time of day or year, the latitude, cloud cover, pollution and reflection. Consequently, there is no formula for relating indoor tanning exposure times to outdoor exposure times.

How does the depletion of the ozone layer affect us?
The increased use of chlorofluorocarbons has influenced the depletion of the ozone layer. A very thin level of ozone surrounds the earth and serves to filter a certain amount of UV light, particularly the shorter wavelengths.

Ozone depletion is the subject of some controversy, but it undoubtedly has a serious impact on the earth. Moreover, some researchers have suggested that plant, animal and human life are well conditioned to adapt to new environmental circumstances. Still, should the trend continue, it could have ramifications for all forms of life. Without the filtering of UV light we will be exposed to more of the shorter wavelengths. Even though indoor tanning can help gradually build pigmentation (the body's own way of avoiding excessive exposure to UV light), one should be aware of how much exposure is proper, and take particular care when outdoors.

Can the UV rays emitted by indoor tanning lamps pass through the skin and affect internal organs?
The UV rays emitted by indoor tanning lamps do not emit sufficient energy to penetrate past the skin layers. Thus, despite claims and rumors to the contrary, internal organs are not directly impacted by longer wave UV light.

Is it harmful to wear contact lenses when tanning indoors?
There exists no known reason why contact lenses may not be worn while tanning indoors. When the eyes are kept closed and proper protective eyewear worn, UV light is blocked from penetrating the eye or lens. However, the heat generated by indoor tanning equipment could cause the eye to dry a bit, thereby making the lens uncomfortable. Just as one should moisturize the skin after tanning, contact lens wearers may also use the eye drops recommended by his/her optometrist.

Why do some people itch after tanning indoors?
Itching and/or rashes may be linked to several unrelated causes, so it is important we obtain a tanning history on each customer. Some people are naturally photosensitive upon exposure to UV. Others are susceptible to heat rashes, a cause totally unrelated to UV light.

Certain chemicals or ingredients found in cosmetics, lotions, shampoos, and even your diet may cause itching as well. Rashes caused by these items generally occur in localized areas either where the products were applied or where the skin is most sensitive. Please be advised to tan with the skin as clean as possible. If discontinued use of a suspected item does not inhibit the rash, you should discontinue any exposure to UV light until the condition subsides or you see a physician.

What causes white spots?
There are several reasons why white spots become noticeable on the body once the tanning process begins. Patches of skin, which do not tan, could be the result of genetic determination. The melanocytes in that certain area may simply not be efficient at producing melanin. White spots could also appear due to the presence of a fungus, which lives on the skin's surface. While the fungus is harmless, it does absorb UV light, which would normally penetrate the skin. This fungus did not appear as a result of tanning; it merely becomes noticeable once tanning occurs. It can be remedied through the use of prescription of drugs or some other topical lotions. White patches of skin, which are often prominent on the shoulder blades and just above the buttocks, can be caused by the pressure from the body as it reclines on a hard surface. This pressure inhibits the flow of blood through that area of the skin. Since blood carries oxygen, which is essential to the tanning process, this area does not tan. Periodic body shifting during tanning will make these white patches disappear.Certain medications can react unfavorably with exposure to UV light. For example, birth control pills can cause blotches and uneven pigmentation of the skin.

Dr. Michael F. Holick from Boston University Medical School's Heliotherapy Light and Research Center answers a few of your questions about tanning and your skin.

If the sun is so bad for me then why does it make me feel so good?
People exposed to sunlight generally experience a feeling of well-being. Today, there is mounting scientific evidence that in humans, the skin and other body organs may also respond to light. Skin cells have been shown (in recent findings by Drs. Scott Campell and Patrick Murphy, as reported in Science Magazine) to produce beta-endorphins during exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Their evidence suggests that it may be possible to alter the body's biologic clock by exposing the skin to high-intensity light. This has wide-ranging ramifications. Not only can this new information be used to potentially develop more effective treatments for sleep and circadian rhythm disorders, but may also help explain why people who are exposed to sunlight or tanning beds experience a feeling of well-being.

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From what I am hearing lately, it seems we will all have skin cancer at some point. What is the real risk?
There are three major types of skin cancer, and when lumped together they make some rather alarming statistics. Something that is not often noted in the media is that two of the three types of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, are not deadly and constitute the statistical majority. The most potentially deadly skin cancer, and by far the most rare, is malignant melanoma. Some of the skin cancer statistics, as well as personal accounts, also include in their numbers "precancerous lesions" that have not been biopsied, or tested for skin cancer. And, keep in mind, we have only had reliable sunscreens that people apply on a regular basis for the last 15 years, and skin cancers may take as long as 20 years or more to develop. In other words, your personal risk for skin cancer may not be as high as you might think. I can't tell you what your personal risk for skin cancer might be; as your risk is dependent on your skin type, how many blistering sunburns you have had, your family history of skin cancer and your total lifetime exposure to the sun. Your genetics may play an important role as to whether you are at a higher risk for developing some skin cancers, including melanomas and squamous cell carcinomas. High-fat diets have been linked to an increased risk of skin cancer. As you can see, there is more to skin cancer risk than just sun exposure.

If I already have a base tan, do I really need to use sunscreens when I'm outdoors?
You still need to use a sunscreen outdoors even if you have a base tan. Even though a base tan does provide some sun screening effect, the amount of protection against burning it provides varies widely from individual to individual. To protect the base tan and prevent the damaging effects due to sunlight over exposure, a sunscreen with at least a moderate SPF level is recommended.

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