World Health Organization: The known health effects of UV

http://www.who.int/uv/faq/uvhealtfac/en/index1.html

Are there beneficial effects of UV radiation?



The sun's rays provide warmth and light that enhance your general feeling of well-being and stimulate blood circulation. Some UV radiation is essential to the body as it stimulates the production of vitamin D. Vitamin D has an important function in increasing calcium and phosphorus absorption from food and plays a crucial role in skeletal development, immune function and blood cell formation. There is no doubt that a little sunlight is good for you! But 5 to 15 minutes of casual sun exposure of hands, face and arms two to three times a week during the summer months is sufficient to keep your vitamin D levels high. Closer to the equator, where UV levels are higher, even shorter periods of exposure suffice.




Hence, for most people, vitamin D deficiency is unlikely. Possible exceptions are those who have very limited sun exposure such as the housebound elderly, or those with heavily pigmented skin who live in high-latitude countries where UV levels are relatively low. Recognising the need for vitamin D, many countries have introduced supplements into common food like flour, cereals and milk. Naturally occurring vitamin D is very rare in our diet, it is present mainly in fatty fish and cod liver oil.



UV radiation has been used to successfully treat a number of diseases, including rickets, psoriasis, eczema and jaundice. This therapeutic use cannot eliminate the negative side-effects of UV radiation but treatment takes place under medical supervision to ensure that the benefits outweigh the risks.



Rickets

Rickets causes a child's bones to soften because they are not getting enough calcium. One common reason for this is a lack of vitamin D. Vitamin D increases calcium absorption from food and transports the ion from the gut into the bone. UV radiation exposure stimulates the production of vitamin D. However, today, most people receive enough vitamin D from supplements in the food they eat.



Lupus vulgaris

Lupus vulgaris is tuberculosis of the skin. It used to be common especially in northern Europe during the winter. The disease produces large ulcers on the face and neck, which are difficult to cure and often leave bad scars. A Danish doctor called Neils Finzen developed a UVB lamp that was so successful in curing the disease that it won him the Nobel prize in 1903. Today, Lupus is very rare and is usually treated successfully with antibiotics.



Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a disease which produces sores and scaling of the skin. It affects 2 to 3 per cent of the population and is probably an autoimmune disease; a disease where your immune system attacks your own cells. Among the treatments for psoriasis PUVA therapy is one of the most popular and successful. The patient is given a drug called psoralen to make the skin more sensitive to UV and is subsequently exposed to UVA radiation. This is repeated several times in the course of treatment. Unfortunately, PUVA treatment increases the patient's risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma, the most common type of skin cancer.



Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a patchy loss of skin pigmentation caused by destruction of the pigment-producing cells called melanocytes. It is probably an autoimmune disease and can be treated by PUVA therapy. In PUVA treatment, the patient is given a drug called psoralen to make the skin more sensitive to UV and is subsequently exposed to UVA radiation. The therapy is fairly successful but increases the patient's risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma, the most common type of skin cancer.

Sun is good for you in moderation

http://www.webmd.boots.com/osteoporosis/news/20101216/sun-is-good-for-you-in-moderation

"Avoiding sunburn still remains the most important thing people can do to protect themselves against developing skin cancer... By enjoying the sun safely, people can make enough vitamin D without increasing their risk of skin cancer," Ed Yong, head of health information and evidence at Cancer Research UK.

Beat the Blues This Winter | Importance of getting sun

By Dr. Al Sears, MD

http://www.alsearsmd.com/beat-the-blues-this-winter/

Hollywood Tans: Senior Tanologist: Need to lose 5lbs instantly? Not a problem.

Hollywood Tans: Senior Tanologist: Need to lose 5lbs instantly? Not a problem.: "If you're in desperate need of an immediate shape up, look no further than your nearest Hollywood Tans salon. A tan is the easiest wa..."

Hollywood Tans: Senior Tanologist: Tanning Beds vs. the Sun

Hollywood Tans: Senior Tanologist: Tanning Beds vs. the Sun: "Research is continuing to support the idea that tanning beds are actually less harmful than the sun when used properly. Check out this..."

Britons now officially recommended to go out into the midday sun withOUT SPF to top up vitamin D levels



You CAN enjoy the sunshine at midday without suncream - but no more than 15 minutes a day, experts say

 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1339174/Britons-SHOULD-midday-sun-Vitamin-D.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Tanned women live longer (as long as you sunbathe sensibly), say scientists

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1335364/Tanned-women-live-longer-say-scientists-Lund-University-Sweden.html

Lack of vitamin D makes kids fat

Lack of vitamin D makes kids fat

Vitamin D Recommendations May Increase for Children : Internal Medicine News

The report “Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D” will be released to the public on Nov. 30, 2010, at 10 a.m. EST. The Chairman of Pediatrics at Memphis’ University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Dr. Russell Chesney, predicts this will coincide with an increase in the Institute of Medicine’s daily vitamin D recommendations for kids.


At the annual American Academy of Pediatrics meeting, the professor acknowledged the vast number of vitamin D-related health benefits, chiding: “Vitamin D truly is the center of the universe."

Although he admits the need for more studies on the vitamin’s superpower status, Chesney is supportive of ongoing health claims, noting the role of UV light in synthesizing the hormone. He also echoed the sentiment of the meeting’s keynote speaker – that today’s children are practically on “house arrest,” which could be fostering epidemic proportions of vitamin D deficiency worldwide.

Currently, the Institute of Medicine recommends 200 IU/day of vitamin D for anyone 50 or younger. Chesney reports that several organizations contacted the group with concerns that this amount was too low.



Source: Vitamin D Recommendations May Increase for Children : Internal Medicine News

Rep. Graves: Opposed to the Tan Tax

http://tomgraves.house.gov/news/press-releases/2010/07/graves-taxed-today-tan-no-more.shtml


“There are many small businesses in the 9th District of Georgia, and among these small businesses are tanning beds, much of which are owned by women. This 10 percent tax increase is simply another kick to the gut of small businesses and will only hurt job creation in the United States,” said Congressman Graves.

The Positive And Negative Effects Of Uv Rays On You

The Positive And Negative Effects Of Uv Rays On You

Dr. Frank Lipman: Vitamin D FAQ

http://www.drfranklipman.com/vitamin-d-faq/

Hollywood Tans once again voted Best Tanning Salon by InSite Atlanta voters

For the second year in a row, InSite Magazine has voted Hollywood Tans multiple area locations as the Best Tanning Salons in Atlanta (http://insiteatlanta.com/bestofatlanta2010.asp).

According to InSite Atlanta, "As the largest chain of professional tanning salons, memberships at Hollywood Tans can be used at any of their 250+ locations nationwide. No appointments are necessary, and with an average of 15 booths at each location, you can be in and out on your schedule. Their vertical tanning system gives customers the most comfortable, sanitary way to achieve their perfect shade."

InSite is one of the longest running alternative papers in Atlanta, serving Atlanta's young professional market with entertainment coverage.

Wristband aims to boost vitamin D levels in children

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-11642748

Vegas hotel’s ‘death ray’ proves inconvenient for some guests

Maybe guests of the Vdara hotel in Las Vegas should stick to indoor tanning?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20100929/bs_yblog_upshot/swanky-new-vegas-hotels-death-ray-a-mild-inconvenience-for-some-guests

Member of Congress John Lewis ignores our questions about the tan tax

We have reached out to Representative John Lewis (GA 5th district) numerous times about the 10% Tan Tax. And each time they've sent a boiler plate response that makes no mention about the Tan Tax. All we're looking for is Rep. Lewis' response as to why he supported the Tan Tax in the Health Care bill, and his thoughts on repealing this unfair and burdening tax on our consumers. Mr. Lewis' latest response (below) is the worst of all... a canned response regarding our e-mail which supposedly expressed our "support for increasing federal funding for health research and disease prevention programs" (certainly an important topic but one we mentioned ZERO times in our e-mail to him). His actions show a complete lack of respect for the concerns of his constituents. We urge Hollywood Tans customers in the 5th district to reach out to Rep. Lewis yourself to ask why he is ignoring our concerns about the Tan Tax.


-----------------------------------
Sent: Wed 9/29/2010 5:07 PM
To: owner@hollywoodtansatlanta.com
From: Congressman John Lewis [imaga05.pub@mail.house.gov]

Thank you for contacting me to express your support for increasing federal funding for health research and disease prevention programs. My heart goes out to all who suffer from chronic illnesses and debilitating medical conditions. I firmly believe the government has a moral obligation to stand by our courageous brothers and sisters by caring for them and promoting medical advancements that will fight and cure disease.

I have always been a strong and vocal supporter of full funding for the National Institute of Health (NIH) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which I'm proud to say is headquartered in Georgia's fifth district. Research done by these institutions is vital to the health of all Americans. A firm commitment to the NIH and CDC is a commitment to treating, curing, and preventing the most debilitating medical conditions of our time.

Stem Cell research is another area in which I believe we can make great progress in combating serious illnesses. As you know, a vast majority of experts believe that embryonic stem cells are the best hope of curing a host of complex diseases. I am a strong supporter of ethical stem cell research and the role that it can play in the advancement of health and medical research. We must provide doctors and patients with the most advanced research to fight these terrible diseases.

I will continue to fight for better treatment and care for patients with serious medical ailments. A strong government commitment to the best medical research represents our best hope for curing - among other things - cancer, diabetes, and AIDS. Thank you again for contacting me about this incredibly important issue. I hope that you will continue to share your views with me. Also, please visit my web site at http://www.house.gov/johnlewis/ for information on other issues of interest to you.

Sincerely,

John Lewis
Member of Congress

New Survey Confirms the 'Look Good, Feel Good' Effect from Indoor Tanning

A new survey supports the view that people enjoy the look, control and self-esteem that is derived from tanning indoors. These results depict a much different attitude than what is being reported in beauty magazines and other media.

The survey tested the knowledge of indoor tanners on topics such as indoor tanning rays vs natural sunlight, as well as opinions on whether indoor tanning is addictive.

An overwhelming 97 percent responding said they felt relaxed and energized when tanning indoors. 71 percent surveyed stated that fashion models look much better with a tan.

Housecall: Vitamin D and Obesity

Housecall: Vitamin D and Obesity

Low levels of vitamin D biomarker linked with an increased risk of HF-related death

Low levels of vitamin D biomarker linked with an increased risk of HF-related death

Les Nourvells Esthetiques & Spa: The importance of Vitamin D to our skin

Vitamin D: It does a body good

LNE: September 2010 issue, page 44

Hollywood Tans: Senior Tanologist: The Naked Truth

Hollywood Tans: Senior Tanologist: The Naked Truth: "To tan naked or not to tan naked; that is the question! I know that when it comes to the big naked debate, everyone is pretty equally divid..."

Mystic Tan / MT Industries changes name to Sunless, Inc.

'SAME COMPANY, NEW NAME, ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES'

Outdoor tanning vs Indoor tanning

http://www.suntan.com//?outdoor_indoor

CNN: 10 vices that are good for you

From CNN.com and Health.com: http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/08/19/ten.healthy.vices/index.html

Stay sharp mentally with indoor tanning, benefits of Vitamin D from Livestrong

Mental benefits of Vitamin D from Livestrong.com

Sunbathing boosts men's testosterone (thanks to vitamin D)

Sunbathing boosts men's testosterone (thanks to vitamin D)

No need to worry about this at Hollywood Tans (all stand-ups): Tanning Bed Bacteria Identified

Hollywood Tans proudly features all stand-up booths for this very reason... you never know what you're laying in when you do lay-down tanning.

Tanning Bed Bacteria Identified - WTOL.com - Toledo's News Leader

Pale skin considered less attractive than cellulite and bulging bellies

London airport offers free spray tan

Relaxnews

Thursday, 29 July 2010

Seems as if the days of the English Rose are in the past: the British capital's Gatwick airport is offering travelers a free spray tan through August 1.


Called Gatwick Glow, the tanning lounge was launched this week after research by the airport revealed that travelers were uncomfortable with baring their pale skin at their holiday destination.

Surprisingly, more men than women expressed this concern in Gatwick's poll, while more than 30 percent of all survey participants said they were dreading the first day on the beach because they weren't tanned. Yet more unexpectedly, pale skin was considered even less attractive than cellulite and bulging bellies.

Kim Francis, the airport's marketing manager, said she hoped the lounge would make passengers "feel great about themselves" and "prevent them from overdoing [the tanning] on the beach."

What Do You Lack? Probably Vitamin D

By JANE E. BRODY


Published: July 26, 2010
 
Vitamin D promises to be the most talked-about and written-about supplement of the decade. While studies continue to refine optimal blood levels and recommended dietary amounts, the fact remains that a huge part of the population — from robust newborns to the frail elderly, and many others in between — are deficient in this essential nutrient. ... (more)

Nutra Legacy: Indoor tanning preferable to tanning in the sun

5 Ways to Get Best Skin Tan and Avoid Damaging UV rays: Offering tips on the best way to tan

If you have pale skin, then you may want to get a little color. However, getting a tan can be a pretty risky endeavor these days. There was a time when you did your skin tanning out under the sun, but thanks to the high UV index, that is no longer possible. In fact, too much exposure to the sun and its damaging radiation is one of the leading skin cancer causes out there. However, there are plenty of ways to get the best skin tan and avoid damaging UV rays all at once.




1. Right Time Under Sun



Now, tanners typically fall into two categories: those who would not even consider baking under the sun and risking the wrath of one of the biggest skin cancer causes, and those who think nothing of spending hours beneath the sun’s rays. Why not look for a happy medium instead? It is still possible to safely get a tan under the sun. You can simply limit the amount of time you spend beneath it. Do not expose yourself for more than an hour at a time. When the sun is particularly intense, you should limit it to thirty minutes. Furthermore, always wear sun screen. It can help reduce the effect the high UV index can have on your skin.



2. Tanning Beds



To be perfectly honest, as most of us are becoming aware, using a tanning bed is not the best skin tan option out there – but it is preferable to the sun! You have more rigid control over the amount of UV rays you receive, the amount of time you spend tanning, and the conditions in which you are doing so.



3. Extending Your Tan



If you do decide to do your skin tanning under the sun or in a tanning bed, you can be safe by trying to make your tan last as long as possible. You can do this simply be keeping your skin moisturized, so it doesn’t peel. That way, the outer layer of skin holding the melanin that gives you a tanned color, moisturizing will help it stay intact longer.



4. Rub-On Tans



The safest way to get the best skin tan is by using a self tanner. Rub on tanning products are a favorite in this genre. Of course, the only problem is that they can sometimes be a little too intense. In other words, you could end up looking like a pumpkin or a carrot. To avoid that orange patina, you need to be very careful both in your choice of product and in your application of it.



5. Spray-On Tans



A lot of people find that spray on tanners are a much better breed of self tanning. Here you have the option of making sure your tan is even, and as light or as dark as you want it while avoiding all of those other skin cancer causes.



The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.

Bright colors when tanned

July 4, 2010

Stylecaster

By Valentina dePertis

When you have got a summer glow it is night to show it off by wearing bright colors. Earnings: Aldo Sweater: Gina tricot Top: Urban outfitters

Victoria's Secret plans tricks and treats

Be sure an get a tan to show off that sexy outfit this fall! Skin is definitely going to be in for Halloween:

Victoria's Secret plans tricks and treats

Helath Care, Vitamin D, and Indoor Tanning

A great summary of the benefits of indoor tanning / UV exposure coupled with links to research that popular media (and dermatologists) seems to be largely ignoring: Just 'D' Facts

"It is a shame that this Congress is doing everything backwards. Moderate and controlled non-burning exposure to Sunshine would reduce Health Care costs, not add to it."

Chemical Sunscreen the New Tobacco?

Posted July 14, 2010 at http://twitter.com/ClassicTan

Doctors and the AMA were paid huge dollars to sponsor big tobacco in the 1950s. In Serpent on the Staff, Chicago Times reporters Howard Wolinsky and Tom Brune expose such unhealthy practices of the AMA and their 300,000 doctor members. Would you believe doctors continued to represent big tobacco six years after the first U.S. Surgeon General’s warnings appeared on cigarettes?

Today, you are lead to believe chemical sunscreens are safe because they are sold in stores and recommended, again, for profit, by doctors and trusted organizations like the American Academy of Dermatology. However, a recent U.S. CDC study finds 97% of Americans are contaminated with Oxybenzone – the chemical found in 588 sunscreens, 172 facial moisturizers, 111 lip balms, and 81 different types of lipstick. Many of those products buy “seals of approval” from trusted organizations like the American Academy of Dermatology, the Skin Cancer Foundation and the American Cancer Society.

Oxybenzone and other sunscreen chemicals behave like estrogens, disrupting normal hormonal function. In lakes, where chemical-laden swimmers frequent, fish are jumping gender from male to female. Oxybenzone is also responsible for killing coral. Chemical sunscreens, contrary to popular belief, do not reflect sunlight harmlessly away. When sunlight strikes the chemical a reaction occurs converting energy into free radicals responsible for premature aging and DNA damage – which can lead to skin cancer.

Today as in the 1950s, doctors are concerned more about profit than your health. Chemical sunscreen is the new tobacco.

Study: Melanoma is NOT increasing in actual incidence, but merely in reported incidence

Dermatology conspiracy? A 2009 British Journal of Dermatology report concluded that melanoma isn't increasing in actual incidence, but merely in reported incidence. The report found that doctors were simply reporting and removing more lesions that may not actually be cancerous.

Is Profit Behind Dermatology's 'Sun Scare' Message?

Next time your dermatologist scares you with facts about the dangers of UV exposure, melanoma, or the importance of using SPF lotions, you may want to read this article first: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/harmon-leon/is-profit-behind-dermatol_b_640929.html

One of the most interesting facts: According to the National Cancer Institute, melanoma only contributes just 0.1 percent of all cancer deaths--it isn't even in the top 15 when it comes to cancer.

This past spring the Association of Health Care Journalists called into question dermatology's math about melanoma. AHCJ reported a person's risk of melanoma is identified at roughly two-to-three per thousand. (Whether they catch sun outdoors or in a tanning bed.) Melanoma is quite rare and it's actually declining in most of the population, except for older men, who get it most often. Oddly, the media marketing campaign for skin cancer prevention is aimed almost entirely at young women, who have less than a one in 100,000 chance of succumbing to melanoma. According to the National Cancer Institute's data, that number has actually gone down more than 50 percent in women 20 to 49 since 1975.

Michael Hicks: Tan tax is downright silly... a modest proposal

"The problem is that this tax fails every single criterion of effective tax policy. It is narrow, easily avoided, suffers high administrative costs, and distorts consumer and producer behavior. It is downright silly..." By Michael Hicks • For The Star Press • July 11, 2010, "MICHAEL HICKS: A modest proposal: The SUN Tax of 2010"

Vitamin D Fears Lead to Sun Warnings Review - Beauty & Skin - FOXNews.com

Vitamin D Fears Lead to Sun Warnings Review - Beauty & Skin - FOXNews.com

Nebraska tanning-industry group plans tax protest

From the Associated Press: The Associated Press June 25, 2010, 1:44PM ET

LINCOLN, Neb.

The Nebraska Indoor Tanning Association is planning to protest at the Capitol in Lincoln next week against a new federal tax on tanning beds.

The 10 percent tax on tanning bed use starts nationwide on Thursday, part of the federal health care overhaul.

A news release from association says the so-called "tan tax" is part of an ongoing scare campaign, "orchestrated by dermatologists and cosmetic companies, that exploits inaccurate fears of the sun" and ultraviolet light.

The association says the tax is unfair because fitness clubs that offer indoor tanning are exempt from the tax.

The rally is set to begin at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Capitol.

Source: http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9GIEM501.htm

Tan Tax causes confusion | ajc.com

Tan Tax causes confusion  | ajc.com

Hollywood Tans CEO: Tax Is Arrogant

Hollywood Tans CEO: Tax Is Arrogant

Hollywood Tans CEO comments on the Tan Tax, making an excellent point that classifying this as a Sin Tax is unfair... studies don't show any significant connection between cancer and indoor tanning... they show a connection between BURNING and cancer. Responsible tanning... that's the Hollywood Tans mantra!

Hollywood Tans owner interviewed about nation's new Tan Tax

The federal government's new tan tax went into effect on July 1st, and 11Alive news interviewed the owner of Hollywood Tans of Atlanta regarding the impact it'll have on the industry. Check it out yourself at: New Tanning Law Reaction!

Hollywood Tans to offer FREE TANS to EVERYBODY on July 3rd as part of TanNation Independence Day

Hollywood Tans is offering one free HT60 tan (a $20 value!) for every customer at the 4 HollywoodTansAtlanta.com salons this Saturday, July 3rd, 2010 as part of TanNation Independence Day 2010! Open until 10pm! Upgrade your free tan to a UV-Free spray tan (a Glow cartridge in our Instant Tan powered by Mystic) for only $10! Discounts and other special offers! Call 866-970-TANS or visit www.HollywoodTansAtlanta.com for more information on Hollywood Tans of Atlanta!

Be sure to RSVP on our Facebook event page to receive a valuable coupon prior to the big event!

Rise in Type 1 Diabetes Attributed to lack of UV exposure - US News and World Report

5 Reasons That May Explain Why Type 1 Diabetes Is on the Rise - US News and World Report

Gwyneth Paltrow no-sun rule backfires, has bone disorder

Gwyneth Paltrow no-sun rule backfires, has bone disorder

Hollywood Tans of Atlanta | The LIST $14.99 / month membership

ABC News - Vitamin D from UV Exposure can decrease cancer by up to 80%

"People who use tanning beds have much much stronger bones and higher Vitamin D levels." - Health Expert Dr. Marc Sorenson

May 25, 2010 15:33 ET

Did Melanoma Researchers 'Reverse Engineer' Their Findings?

Anti-Tanning Lobbying Group Downplayed Key Conflicting Information, According to Smart Tan

JACKSON, MI--(Marketwire - May 25, 2010) - A University of Minnesota advocacy group may have "reverse-engineered" a study to bolster its own pre-existing anti-indoor tanning crusade, failing to properly cite the significance of conflicting data within its own paper, downplaying confounding data that opposed its conclusions and failing to disclose the conflict-of-interest of its own anti-tanning advocacy efforts.

"This study was designed and executed by an advocate, not a neutral party, and the advocate failed to properly disclose that she is not a neutral party," said Joseph Levy, vice president of International Smart Tan Network, the educational institute for the North American indoor tanning community. "That conflict of interest clouds some of the irregularities reported in the paper."

Dr. DeAnn Lazovich, lead author of "Indoor Tanning and Risk of Melanoma: A Case-Control Study in a Highly Exposed Population," set for publication in the June issue of American Association for Cancer Research, failed to disclose in the paper that she is part of a University of Minnesota group that initiated programs to discourage indoor tanning use three years before designing and engaging in data collection for this study. Those interactions may themselves have tainted subjects and controls used in the study.

Most epidemiologic papers on this topic (18 of 23 ever conducted) show no statistically significant association between indoor tanning usage and melanoma. The ones that have shown an association have failed to accurately account for confounding variables such as genetic predisposition, home tanning unit usage or outdoor sun exposure habits.

The International Smart Tan Network finds serious flaws with the study, including:

• Failure to disclose conflict of interest and deceptive research practices
• Failure to disclose conflicting findings and confounding factors
• Failure to highlight study and control group bias by choosing study participants who are naturally predisposed to melanoma
• Failure to cite absolute risk factors, as opposed to relative risk
• Failure to cite other sources, such as sunscreen use, for risks associated with melanoma
• Failure to explain a 5-fold higher usage of indoor tanning in the study's control group when compared to the national average

Specifically:

(1) The authors downplayed conflicting evidence. The study showed that individuals who got the most outdoor sun exposure in their lives had a 15 percent lower risk of melanoma when compared to those who got less sun -- a conflicting result from their main thesis. The paper is actually the latest in a line of studies showing that people who get the most UV exposure outdoors actually are less likely to contract the disease.

"Despite what the authors in this paper set out to prove, the fact remains that whatever relationship UV exposure has with melanoma is still not understood because paper after paper, including this one, continue to show that people who get more sun exposure have fewer melanomas," said Dr. William Grant, founder of the independent (SUNARC). Grant, an independent advocate for UV exposure as the natural and intended source of vitamin D, published a peer-reviewed meta-analysis this year showing that indoor tanning is not a risk factor for melanoma in individuals with skin that can tan, with UV-related risk isolated only in the fairest-skinned "Skin Type I" subjects who have tanned in the past in Europe, but who are screened in North American tanning facilities. Dr. Grant's study is available at: http://sunarc.org/press31504.htm

That appears to be why the University of Minnesota group chose the ethnically homogenous Minnesota, whose population is 80 percent fair-skinned Northern European heritage and not representative of the U.S. population.

(2) In suggesting that tanners double their risk of melanoma, the authors mention only relative risk figures in the paper, ignoring that more telling figure that the absolute risk of melanoma is quite low for both tanners and non-tanners. The largest study to date shows that both indoor tanners and non-tanners have less than a 0.3 percent risk of contracting melanoma and most studies show no statistically significant difference between the two groups.

The misleading nature of "relative risk" figures in melanoma data was the topic of an article published by the Association of Health Care Journalists on May 7 by Dr. Ivan Oransky, a Reuters Health editor: http://bit.ly/dteTaz

Oransky quotes Dr. Lisa Schwartz, a general internist at Veterans Affairs Medical Center in White River Junction, Vt., and co-author of "Know Your Chances," a book that explains health statistics to consumers.

"Melanoma is pretty rare and almost all the time, the way to make it look scarier is to present the relative change, the 75 percent increase, rather than to point out that it is still really rare," Schwartz told The News Journal's Hiran Ratnayake, who interviewed Schwartz in a March 4, 2010 article on melanoma and indoor tanning.

(3) The Minnesota study also reported that high lifetime chemical sunscreen usage increased melanoma risk by 31 percent -- a finding the authors downplay but which comes on the heels of an Environmental Working Group report this week showing that sunscreen usage may be contributing to cancer risk: http://bit.ly/b1LsG4

(4) There are statistical irregularities in the Minnesota paper. While only an estimated 10 percent of the adult population in Minnesota utilizes indoor tanning facilities, 51 percent of the paper's "randomly selected" control group had used tanning equipment -- a statistical difference so unlikely as to almost be impossible.

(5) The authors admit that researchers and doctors had undocumented inappropriate interactions with the case group. And while they attempt to explain this, they don't disclose that the study's University of Minnesota designers had engaged in a multi-year campaign to discourage indoor tanning usage for years prior to conducting this study -- a conflict-of-interest that likely created bias in doctors, cases and all doctor-case interactions in the study.

Because the results of this study are statistical outliers in the sum of work on this topic, the potential for bias in this study model cannot be discounted, particularly because the authors failed to disclose their anti-tanning advocacy conflict-of-interest.

(6) The University of Minnesota group engaged in deceptive practices in 2001 when, using a National Cancer Institute grant, it developed a bogus indoor tanning training program in order to obtain data from indoor tanning facilities for future studies. According to reports, the Minnesota group told salons they were attempting to help operators lower their risks, but the University of Minnesota refers to the same grant on its web site as an effort to reduce indoor tanning usage.

http://www.cancer.umn.edu/research/profiles/lazovich.html

(7) The authors understate the nature of previous research on this topic, suggesting that, "With at least 29 reports to date, past history of indoor tanning has been only weakly associated with melanoma." In fact, 18 of 22 previous studies show no statistically significant association.

(8) The authors misstate the nature of a 2009 IARC report on indoor tanning and melanoma -- a 400-word article in which IARC classified UV light from indoor tanning units as carcinogenic. In fact, the U.S. government has classified UV light from indoor tanning as carcinogenic since the publication of The 9th Report on Carcinogens 2000. But, more accurately, such a classification has no dose attached to it. According to that report, "The Report does not present quantitative assessments of carcinogenic risk. Listing of substances in the Report, therefore, does not establish that such substances present carcinogenic risks to individuals in their daily lives."

"Saying that UV is dangerous and should be avoided without mentioning that critical caveat is like saying that water is dangerous because it causes drowning, and therefore humans should avoid all water," Levy said. "It's a misrepresentation."

Smart Tan believes a balanced picture about UV exposure -- which vitamin D research in the past two years has proven is natural and intended -- will benefit consumers.

"We are happy to participate in that discussion on a high level. While the professional indoor tanning community continues to responsibly warn people about the risks of sunburn and overexposure, groups who benefit financially from overstating the risks of regular non-burning UV exposure continue to misrepresent data to the detriment of the consumer," Levy continued, "We think the promotion of this study has more to do with justifying a dinosaur mentality about UV light in an era when vitamin D research is proving that decades of overzealous sun avoidance may have skyrocketed SPF sales, but has caused epidemic-level vitamin D deficiency and great confusion in the population."

Media Contact:
Chris Capra
Lotus Public Relations
Email Contact
212-922-5885

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