LOF - NY Tanning Restrictions Passed, Others Proposed

LOF - NY Tanning Restrictions Passed, Others Proposed

No indoor tanning for those under 14 in New York. The tanning restrictions continue.

Tan Lotion Led to Burns at pool

Tan lotion led to burns at local pool - gainesvilletimes.com

Someone used indoor tanning lotion with tingle at their neighborhood pool and then went in the pool and it washed off. Kids and other adults swimming in the pool reacted to it. It is very understandable that people unaware of the tingle lotion would be very scared at the reddening and burning sensation. They called the fire department and tested the pool's chlorine. I am surprised that they didn't investigate who was using the lotion. They also did not mention the specific brand of lotion.

Tanning Industry Under Attack

The New York Times recently published an article about how the tanning industry is being attacked by those advocating restricting teen use. This is one of the best articles I have read on the tanning industry and how it is being manipulated. The article even points out that there have not been any scientific studies which research the direct relationship between using a tanning bed and skin cancer. Read it for yourself : Health Officials Aim at Tanning Salons

By PAUL VITELLO

Published: August 14, 2006

Even the most conscientious health officials cannot keep the sun from rising; so in response to an unexplained increase in skin cancer among young people, some have fixed their sights on a more governable suspect: the $5 billion-a-year indoor tanning industry.

Since 2003, 19 states have passed laws restricting access to tanning salons among those under 18. State laws have been adopted in the past year in New York and New Jersey, as have local laws in Westchester, Nassau, Suffolk and Rockland Counties.

Though less stringent than some health advocates would like, the new legislation reflects a growing sense of alarm among public health organizations about unregulated use of tanning beds by young people, especially teenage girls.

In the last two years, the World Health Organization, the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Dermatology have labeled tanning beds as the health-peril equivalent of cigarettes. All have urged prohibiting their use by minors.

“If adults want to make the decision to use tanning beds, fine,” said Dr. James M. Spencer, clinical professor of dermatology at the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine and a co-author of a 2004 paper published by the Academy of Dermatology proposing regulations to bar minors in tanning salons. “But we don’t sell cigarettes to minors, and indoor tanning is similar — we know it will cause cancer. Not maybe. Not might. It’s going to cause cancer. No one under 18 should be allowed to use those things.”

There has been contradictory evidence about the relationship between skin cancer and ultraviolet light. In 2002, the federal government’s National Toxicology Program listed broad-spectrum ultraviolet radiation, whether from sunlight or sun lamps, as a known cause of both melanoma and the less lethal forms of skin cancer in humans.

Some studies, however, including one conducted by the Food and Drug Administration’s Working Group on Sunlamps, suggest a more ambiguous linkage. The working group’s study said that while it was suggestive of a link, the evidence that ultraviolet light causes skin cancer was inconclusive. And, while the reported incidence of skin cancer has been on the rise, some cancer researchers have suggested that greater vigilance in cancer screening may be part of the reason.

In response to the broadside against it by various medical organizations, the tanning industry has mounted a vigorous counteroffensive to persuade lawmakers to circumscribe the regulation of an industry that until recently was virtually free to serve clients of any age. Since 2001, the Indoor Tanning Association has retained the services of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, a Washington lobbying firm.

Claiming that 30 million people safely use tanning facilities each year in the United States, industry representatives have argued their case against age-limit bills in state capitols across the country.

“The dermatologists have been trying to link indoor tanning to skin cancer for 20 years, and there is no proof,” said John Overstreet, executive director of the tanning association, which represents several thousand tanning parlor owners and equipment distributors nationally. “Melanoma takes years to develop,” he said. “So for them to say that we are causing an increase in melanoma among young people — well, it’s the opposite of the truth.”

Melanoma, the most lethal form of skin cancer, claims an estimated 8,000 lives annually in the United States. It is the most common cancer in young women aged 25 to 29, according to recent dermatological studies.

Despite the lack of indisputable evidence of the cause, however, dermatologists have taken a hard line against tanning. They point to three intersecting reasons for concern — the rising number of melanomas being diagnosed, studies indicating possible links between melanomas and sunburning in early life, and the popularity of tanning among teenage girls — to support their proposal to bar those under 18 from indoor tanning parlors.

While it has been unable to stop a tide of new restrictions, the tanning lobby has consistently fought to limit outright prohibitions against serving minors, and so far, none of the laws ban all people under 18. Most set the minimum age requirement at 14.

“Personally, I don’t think they go far enough,” said Dr. Darrell S. Rigel, past president of the American Academy of Dermatology and a professor of dermatology at N.Y.U. Medical Center. “But there are 60,000 tanning salons in this country, and only 8,000 of us practicing dermatologists. So the reality is our proposals will get watered down.”

The Texas Dermatological Association pushed for a bill to bar those under 18 from tanning salons, but settled for a law passed in 2001 that set the cutoff at 13.

“We wanted to have photos posted in every tanning parlor, showing the different types of skin cancer,” said Dr. Shelley Sekula-Gibbs, who was then president of the Texas Dermatological Association and is now a member of the Houston City Council. “That was shot down, too.”

The new laws in New York and New Jersey, which ban all children under 14, are among the toughest in the nation. Only California’s law is as strict. In Massachusetts, Texas, Tennessee, Illinois, Florida and Louisiana, for example, children under 14 are allowed to visit tanning salons accompanied by a parent. In Michigan, the statute only suggests parental consent.

“We’re very grateful for the law passed in the New York State Legislature,” said Colette Coyne of New Hyde Park, the mother of a 30-year-old woman who died of melanoma and one of a cadre of private citizens lobbying for restrictions around the country. “But in order to get these bills passed, you have to accept certain limits.”

Mr. Overstreet, the industry lobbyist, traveled to Albany to meet with the sponsor of the New York bill, Senator Charles J. Fuschillo Jr., a Republican from Long Island. “He was very receptive to what we had to say,” Mr. Overstreet said.

He said he made a pitch for what he termed “a parent’s right to decide,” and argued against any law that restricted it. “I contend that very few youngsters are using our facilities anyway, and that making these laws — there’s no point to it,” he said.

Mr. Fuschillo said he never considered a bill to bar all minors from tanning salons. He said no one suggested one, including Ms. Coyne, with whom he also met. “Our purpose was to protect children from excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays, not to put anybody out of business,” he said.

In the suburbs around New York City, where a fad in indoor tanning has taken hold among children of high school age, local laws have been adopted during the past year in Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester and Rockland Counties that in some cases are slightly stricter than the state laws.

In Suffolk County, for example, the law passed in June prohibits anyone under 14 from using a tanning bed, just as the state law does, but adds the requirement that the parents of those 14 to 17 must sign a consent form in the presence of the tanning operator, renewable every six months.

“I was a high school teacher, and I remember sending one girl to the school nurse because her skin was so leathery I thought she had a condition of some sort,” said Vivian Viloria-Fisher, the Suffolk County legislator who sponsored the measure. “The nurse just said, ‘Oh, she’s just been tanning at a salon.’ ”

In Rockland County, after a heated debate involving lawmakers, industry representatives and local members of the American Cancer Society, the County Legislature passed one of the strictest laws in the country earlier this month. It bans children under 16 from using tanning beds. For 16- and 17-year-olds, a parent has to be present during the first session and then sign a consent form that must be renewed every month.

“This is one of the most obnoxious laws I ever saw,” said one of the legislators, Patrick J. Moroney of Pearl River, during the public hearing on Aug. 1. “So a teenager can have an abortion but not get a tan without her parent’s consent?”

In the audience, a small group of owners and distributors softly applauded the remark. One of them, Louis DiGioia, who identified himself as a distributor of tanning beds, later addressed the lawmakers, saying, “What you’re doing with this legislation is telling people how to raise their kids.”

Alden H. Wolfe, the Suffern lawmaker who introduced the bill, said its intent was the opposite: “to put parents back into the equation.”

Although various studies have shown steady increases in skin cancer, including melanoma, dermatologists are most troubled by a jump in its incidence among the young.

“The tanning industry will say there is no study that says if you go to tanning salons you will get cancer, and they’re right; we’re all exposed to sun from the day we’re born,” said Robin Ashinoff, the director of dermatologic Mohs and laser surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey. To her and other advocates, though, the possibility that using sunlamps increases the risk of skin cancer is enough reason to seek protections for children.

Representative Carolyn B. Maloney, a Democrat from New York City, has sponsored a bill requiring that a clearly legible sign be prominently posted on all tanning beds citing the National Toxicology Report listing of ultraviolet light as a known carcinogen. “In my view, this is a women’s issue,” she said. “It is women who are using these tanning facilities, and they who are the most at risk.”

She cited a study by the American Academy of Dermatology last year indicating that Caucasian women between age 16 and 49 make up 70 percent of those who regularly visit tanning salons.

One such woman, Emily Konesky, 20, who lives near Buffalo and has been a regular indoor tanner from the age of 15, was found to have melanoma last year, three days after her 19th birthday.

“My friends and I started using tanning beds in our freshman year,” she said. “There were always coupons for free visits circulating around the high school — ‘bring a friend, get one free’ — and by the time I was 16 I was going about three times a week.”

Melanoma has occurred before in her extended family, and she suspects that there is a genetic factor in her illness. “But I never thought it would happen at 19,” she said. “I can’t help thinking there was a connection to my tanning.”

Mr. Overstreet, the lobbyist, would disagree.

“There may be an increase in skin cancer,” he said, “but there are many complex factors that could be involved, including climate change and the ozone. The fact is, medical science has no idea why there is an increase in skin cancer. No idea.”

Is that a Freckle?

What you thought were freckles could be a solar lentigines, as seen on this man's back.

Did you only develop them as you aged? Are they larger than the tiny freckles across a youngster's nose? Although harmless these brown markings are signs of sun damage.

Solar lentigines tend to become more numerous with repeated sun exposure and with advancing age. Sometimes they develop in large numbers, as seen on this man's upper back.

They're different from freckles in that freckles are red or light brown, are smaller in size, tend to develop earlier in life, and usually lighten in winter months.

Click to look at more slides from the Mayo Clinic.

Inspect yourself regularly for changes in your skin. See our other post about what to look for and how to preform a self-examination. Practice smart tanning, only exposing yourself for the recommended amount for your skin type and using SPF protection that is appropriate for your activities and skin type.

Who Needs SPF 45?

Skin Type (complexion)	Appropriate Sunscreen Agent
Very fair—Always burns easily; rarely tans	Use SPF 20 to 30
Fair—Always burns easily; tans minimally	Use SPF 12 to 20
Light—Burns moderately; tans gradually (light brown)	Use SPF 8 to 12
Medium—Burns minimally; always tans well (moderate brown)	Use SPF 4 to 8
Dark—Rarely burns; tans profusely (dark brown)	Use SPF 2 to 4

These are the recommended SPF levels for people of various skin types from the Mayo Clinic. They have a very through list of Sunscreen Brands in the US and Canada and list the ingredients in each.

Question: What is your favorite sunscreen product for face, body or lips?

Older Adults & Vitamin D

Older adults

It is believed that the elderly, who spend little time in the sun and use sunscreen agents frequently, may be at risk for vitamin D deficiency (which may result in bone disease and fracture), although this has not been proven. To help you get enough vitamin D, it is recommended that you eat food rich in vitamin D, such as fortified milk or fatty fish. Your doctor may also advise you to take vitamin D supplements. Check with your doctor about this.

From the Mayo Clinic

How to Spot Skin Cancer

If You Can Spot It, You Can Stop It

Coupled with a yearly skin exam by a doctor, self-examination of your skin once a month is the best way to detect the early warning signs of basal cell carcinoma , squamous cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma, the three main types of skin cancer. Look for a new growth or any skin change.

What you'll need: a bright light; a full-length mirror; a hand mirror; two chairs or stools; a blow-dryer.

Examine head and face, using one or both mirrors. Use blow-dryer to inspect scalp.

Check hands, including nails. In full-length mirror, examine elbows, arms, underarms.

Focus on neck, chest, torso.

Women: Check under breasts.

With back to the mirror, use hand mirror to inspect back of neck, shoulders, upper arms, back, buttocks, legs.

Sitting down, check legs and feet, including soles, heels, and nails. Use hand mirror to examine genitals.

Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, is especially hard to stop once it has spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body. But it can be readily treated in its earliest stages.

To go to the original article including diagrams click here

Moles & Melanoma Check Yourself!

Start a Healthy Habit Today!

Check yourself regularly for variations in your moles. Here is What to Look For:

Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer. In its advanced state, it can cause serious illness and even death. Fortunately, melanoma rarely strikes without warning. There are almost always signs that danger is lurking. Watch for them, because when melanoma is found early, it is almost always curable.

The ABCDE's of Moles & Melanoma

Moles, brown spots and growths on the skin are usually harmless — usually, but not always. Anyone who has more than 100 moles is at greater risk for melanoma. The first signs can appear in one or more of these moles. That's why it's so important to get to know your skin very well. Examine the skin all over your body once a month and have a physician check you over once a year.


Asymmetry
If you draw a line through this mole, the two halves will not match, meaning it is asymmetrical, a warning sign for melanoma.



Border
The borders of an early melanoma tend to be uneven. The edges may be scalloped or notched.



Color
Having a variety of colors is another warning signal. A number of different shades of brown, tan or black could appear. A melanoma may also become red, white or blue.



Diameter
Melanomas usually are larger in diameter than the size of the eraser on your pencil (1/4 inch or 6 mm), but they may sometimes be smaller when first detected.



Evolving
When a mole is evolving, see a doctor. Any change — in size, shape, color, elevation, or another trait, or any new symptom such as bleeding, itching or crusting — points to danger.



If you detect any of these warning signs, see a physician promptly. It is particularly important for you to select a physician who specializes in skin cancer and is trained to recognize a melanoma at its earliest stage. You would first see a dermatologist, who might refer you to a dermatologic surgeon or oncologist (cancer specialist). Make an appointment without delay.

Prompt action is your best protection. Common moles and melanomas do not look alike. Check the comparison photos:


For a free brochure including a body map and the warning signs of all major skin cancers, send a stamped, self-addressed, business-size envelope to:
The Skin Cancer Foundation
245 Fifth Avenue
Suite 1403
New York, NY 10016

A Special Thank to the Skin Cancer Foundation for creating this helpful and easy to follow guide. Click here to go to the original article: "What to Look For"

Tanning Gains Popularity in Shanghai

According to the Shanghai Dailytanning has been gaining popularity since the first tanning salons appeared in the Chinesse city of Shanghai two years ago. An Austrailian opened the first tanning salon and imports tanning beds from Germany. Increased travel abroad, particularly to the west, and the visibility of pop icons sporting tans are contributing factors to the acceptance and desirability of a tan.

Survey: "How Often Do You Tan?"

1. How Often Do you Tan?


Often,usually several times a week

Frequently, more than twice a month

Occassionally, a couple times a year

Rarely, if ever

Campaign for New Tanning Bed Label

The American Medical Association and the American Academy of Dermatology have called unsuccessfully for a ban on the recreational use of artificial tanning beds. The indoor tanning industry, with an estimated $5 billion in annual business, has struck back, calling critics alarmist and irresponsible.

In May, Konesky walked the U.S. Capitol with Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-Manhattan, lobbying for a bill that would direct the Food and Drug Administration to review the adequacy of warning labels for tanning beds.

The bill that Konesky lobbied for will probably pass, with bipartisan support, said Congresswoman Maloney.

Scientists know much more about skin cancer today than in 1979, when the label language was written, Maloney noted.

"The label is 104 words long and emphasizes the wrong health effects," she said. "We need to do better."

Original Article from Buffalo News "A Dangerous Beauty"

Why Protect Your Eyes?

Protecting your eyes from UV light can be simple and inexpensive. It is as easy as wearing wide brimmed hat and sun glasses or tanning goggles. Tanning Salons are required to offer goggles free of charge and to sanitize them after each use. Protecting yourself is easy! It is also especially important for those who enjoy recreation activities outside.

UV damage to your eyes accumulates over your lifetime. The crystalline lens in your eye absorbs the UV light and causes a yellowing or opacification on the lens. This phenomenon is known as a cataract and causes glare, poor contrast sensitivity, blur and significant vision loss. There is no reversing sun damage to your eyes the only options are preventing future damage or surgery.

A much less common but severe result of too much UV exposure is choroidal malignant melanoma. The choroid is the layer of the eye that supports the sensory retina.

If you are diagnosed with a choroidal malignant melanoma, typically enucleation, or removal of the eye, is advised. There also is the worry that the cancer will spread to vital organs and result in death.

From the Eye Care Blog

This photo is an example of a pterigium, although a benign growth on the eye, it is unattractive and causes the eye to look extra red from increases circulation.

Wearing googles or sunglasses isn't just a fashion trend it is protection for one of your most valuable assets.

Here is what to look for in a pair of sunglasses:

Look for sunglasses that block at least 99% of ultraviolet rays. UV protection is a concern for all of us. People at high risk for developing problems from UV exposure include those who spend long hours in the sun because of work or recreation, those who have had cataract and refractive surgery, individuals who have certain retinal disorders and people who take certain medications - such as tetracycline, sulfa drugs, birth control pills, diuretics and tranquilizers - that increase the eye's sensitivity to light. And children's eyes are particularly susceptible because kids usually spend more time outdoors than adults and their young eyes let more UV rays inside. From Check Yearly, See Clearly

Protect yourself and your family by wearing protective eye wear, whether in the tanning salon, in the car, or on the playground.

Question: If you chose not to wear the recommended eye wear while in the tanning bed why?

Is Tanning While Pregnant Safe?

Looking tan while pregnant can be a great boost to self-esteem. Always consult your physcian if you have any questions regarding your pregnancy. Below your will find the opinion of several sources regarding tanning while pregnant. Each individual and pregnancy is different so keep that in mind.

UV exposure from a tanning bed or the sun poses the same risks while pregnant. The UV light does not prenetrate into the fetus and there have not been any studies which show negative side effects from tanning. Pregnant women should be cautious of over heating and are generally advised to avoid saunas and hot tubs. Another consideration is that lying on your back for too long may restrict blood flow to and from the heart. You would feel light headed if this happened. Tanning while pregnant is a personal decision and there are alternatives to a lay down tanning bed, such as a tanning booth, or sunless tanning.

Pregnant women with sensitive skin who expose themselves to ultraviolet rays (whether from tanning beds or the sun), may be more prone to chloasma, those dark skin splotches that can appear on the face and occasionally the arms during pregnancy. The duration of a tanning session should always consider skin type and any sensitivity caused by a medical condition or medication. For some taking medication or with a fair complextion there may not be any amount of exposure that is recommended.

		Q. I am pregnant and want to use a tanning bed. Any risks?
A:		There is no evidence that radiation from a tanning bed would cause harm to the fetus. Lights in a tanning bed emit UVA or ultraviolet A radiation, similar to the tanning rays emitted by the sun although they are more concentrated in a tanning bed. UVA radiation is not very penetrating-clothes can stop it as you can tell by tan marks when you wear a T-shirt out on a sunny afternoon. UVA radiation is not able to penetrate through the skin and abdominal tissue to expose the fetus. There is no reason for concern.

From Health Physics Society

You are more likely to burn while pregnant and there is a risk of over heating according to Dr. William McIntosh who responded to this question on OBGYN.net

If you chose to tan or use self-tanners while pregnant here is some advice from WebMD: From the Article: "Tanning for Two"

Take these precautions:

• Drink enough water.
• Prevent overheating.
• Prevent sunburns.
• Avoid being in the sun during the noon hours.
• Remember you can be exposed to the sun's rays even when you are in the shade.
• Use sunscreen to minimize damage to your skin.
• Only use as much self-tanning lotion as is necessary.
• Remember that most self-tanners do not provide protection from ultraviolet rays (nor do the "tans" they produce), so you should still use sunscreen if you want to protect yourself.

General Article about Tanning while pregnant from www.BabyCenter.com


Disclaimer: TanningNews.org is not a medical organization and you should always consult your own physician regarding medical questions. We wanted to provide some of the reason for and against tanning while pregnant.

Question: Did you choose to tan while pregnant? If so why and what method did you use? Would you recommend it to other women?

How Long Should You Tan For?

Sundicator.net offers a tanning time calculator, it allows you to put in your skin type, the UV index, any SPF protection, and weather conditions then it gives you a recommended tanning time. It is alway recommended to use the manufactures suggested time limits for your skin type and tan level. This tool would be particularly useful if you are tanning outdoors where conditions vary hour to hour. Check your local paper or a weather website to find out the UV index for the day. Then try out the Tanning Calculator.