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• The pros and cons of tanning, Part I

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Professionals in the health community preach sun abstinence, but not everyone agrees with the threat that UV tanning poses. People within the tanning industry and doctors devoted to studying the positive effects of both the sun and tanning bed, often accuse dermatologists and other professionals of being part of the “sun scare” community.

According to www.tanningtruth.com, a base tan is necessary to help prevent sunburn, and a tan is the body’s natural protection against sunburn.

The site also said that using a tanning bed is “smart” tanning because the amount of light one gets is controlled.

People in the tanning industry say it is impossible to control tanning outdoors, where variables such as season, time of day, weather conditions, reflective surfaces and altitude make outdoor tanning a random act and sunburn prevention difficult.

Exposure to UVB is also important for vitamin D production, and the tanning industry blames the “sun scare community” for cases of vitamin D deficiency. Tanning is also thought to help prevent cancers such as colon cancer and breast cancer, among others.

Dr. William Grant of California is the founder of an organization called SUNARC, which receives funding from the UV Foundation, the Vitamin D Society and the European Sunlight Association. He does research on natural sunlight and its benefits.

“The most beneficial effects of indoor tanning are vitamin D production and development of a base tan that provides an effective protection factor of two to four for UVA and UVB, permitting those who go on vacations to sunny locations to stay in the sun two to four times as long as without the tan,” said Grant in an e-mail.

According to the Office of Dietary Supplements of the National Institutes of Health, vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin found in food and can also be made in your body after exposure to UV rays. The major function of vitamin D is to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus.

Sunshine is a significant source of vitamin D because UV rays trigger vitamin D synthesis. The liver and kidney help convert vitamin D to its active hormone form, vitamin D3, says the Office of Dietary Supplements. The recommended intake for vitamin D is 400 IU (international units) per day.

Grant analyzed cancer deaths in the U.S. that were caused by insufficient amounts of sunlight, and he found that each year in the U.S. 50,000 to 63,000 citizens die prematurely from major internal cancers caused by insufficient vitamin D.

Grant said that getting vitamin D from casual sun exposure is an urban myth.

He said the current guideline of 400 IU per day is not enough and said one needs about 1,500 IU of vitamin D3 per day for effective disease reduction.

Grant said he believes that the benefits of the sun generally outweigh the possible consequences, but he said people with freckles and red hair must be extra careful in the sun.

Tanning beds can produce up to 15,000 IU of vitamin D in only eight or nine minutes, according to the book, Solar Power for Optimal Health.

Susan Kundrat, sports and wellness dietitian at Strawberry Fields in Urbana, said there are increasing health concerns relating to vitamin D.

“I think it is true that vitamin D is a really important nutrient, and it’s becoming evident that many people do not get enough of it,” she said.

She said there may be more diseases linked to vitamin D, and, as a whole, she believes people in the northern part of the United States are not getting enough vitamin D.

She said she thinks the general recommendations of 400 IU are not high enough but does not think that people should tan to make up the difference.

“My first inclination would not be to send someone to a tanning booth if they had a vitamin D deficiency,” said Kundrat.

She said she would first ask if they were getting enough vitamin D-fortified foods or using supplements of calcium and vitamin D.

“To me, the lowest risk way to get more vitamin D would be to get it in food or supplement,” she said.

According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, some of the best food sources for vitamin D are cod liver oil, salmon, tuna fish, mackerel, sardines, milk and egg yolks, among others.

Dr. Nicole Hartsough, dermatologist at Hartsough Dermatology in Loves Park, said people need very little sunlight for vitamin D production.

“You get small amounts of light all the time,” said Hartsough.

Don Kermath, president and co-owner of Classic Tan, owns six salons in Champaign-Urbana. He said women ages 18 to 34 represent 60 percent of Classic Tan’s customers.

“The key principle is to never, ever sunburn,” said Kermath. “Moderate tanning for individuals who can tan, we believe, is the smartest way to maximize potential benefits of the sun while minimizing the potential risks.”

He said that teaching customers not to burn is a more responsible message than sun abstinence.

Kermath said he also believes regular sun exposure is an important way to receive sufficient levels of vitamin D. He said all of his beds have some UVB, which causes skin to produce vitamin D.

“We call November through March vitamin D winter in Champaign,” said Kermath. “Vitamin D winter means that the sun does not have enough energy to produce the reaction in your skin that produces vitamin D.”

He said during these months business increases.

Kermath said 30 years ago the tanning industry preached no limits to sun exposure, and people were putting iodine and baby oil on their skin to increase tanning effectiveness. Now, the “sun scare community” preaches sun abstinence.

“Those are the two extremes that are wrong,” he said. “We are here in the middle, and this is where we think the smartest advice can be given to people.”

He said he believes tanning helps with depression and improves skin complexions.

The Food and Drug Administration lists UV light as a carcinogen. Kermath said he does not agree with the FDA’s decision.

“It’s the only natural thing on the list,” said Kermath. “I have little credence for what the FDA does or doesn’t do.”

Kermath said the FDA requires the salon to put a sign in each room that informs customers that they are exposing themselves to ultraviolet rays and that they need to wear eyewear to protect their eyes.

“That’s simply because your eye lids by themselves can not filter enough ultra violet light to protect your eyes,” he said. “You can get some serious eye diseases like glaucoma.”

Every Classic Tan salon offers sunless tanning for those who want to avoid UV exposure. Kermath said customers walk into the sunless booth and are sprayed with a formula composed of aloe, water and dihydroxyacetone (DHA), a type of sugar.

DHA darkens the dead cells in the outermost layer of skin. The coloring doesn’t wash off, but it gradually fades as the dead skin cells slough off. The color is usually gone after five to seven days, according to the Mayo Foundation’s Web site.

DHA is FDA approved for external application but not approved to be around ones eyes and lips or to be inhaled. Kermath said sunless tanners wear protective eyewear, lip balm and a nose filter.

The Skin Cancer Foundation says the popularity of self-tanning products is dramatically increasing.

For example, Neutrogena, a well-known brand for cosmetics, offers 11 different self tanning products including lotions, sprays and foams.

Hartsough said she believes sunless tanning products are a safe alternative to natural tanning.

“I think they look more natural than a tanning bed tan,” she said.

Elsasser said she used a spray tan once and ended up orange. Since then, she said she only uses a tanning bed and is not overly worried about the possible dangers.

“I know I should be more worried,” she said. “It’s definitely in the back of my head.”