The Bulb Tanning Salon Joins International Program

To Teach Sunburn Prevention to Teens

JACKSON , Mich. – The Bulb Tanning Salon of Warren , Michigan is enthusiastically taking part in “Project Smart Teen” – an international effort designed to teach teens practical, effective, life-long techniques to prevent sunburn.

The campaign, coordinated by International Smart Tan Network, is underway at professional indoor tanning facilities worldwide and sets out to promote intelligent life-long sun-care as an attractive alternative to telling teens to simply stay out of the sun.

“Teens who tan indoors or outdoors, and even teens who do not choose to tan, will all benefit from learning effective, practical sunburn prevention techniques,” says Kim Boyke, Owner. “This program is a great way for us to give back to our community and be proactive in educating teens and their families on the best and most effective ways to prevent sunburn.”

Teaching practical sunburn prevention instead of sun avoidance is proven to be more effective at preventing sunburn.

 “Sun protection is important, but simply telling a teen to stay out of the sun and to wear sunscreen 365 days a year doesn’t work and is overstating what should be said,” says Joseph Levy , vice president of International Smart Tan Network and director of the Smart Teen initiative. “There are benefits and risks of exposure to sunlight, and teens are smart. Preaching an overstated message about sun protection – which is unfortunately what many public health campaigns do today – ultimately destroys the credibility of the message. This campaign is a realistic alternative to overstated messages. Instead of teaching sun abstinence, we are teaching practical sunburn prevention.”

• Studies have shown that teens who tan in salons are less likely to sunburn outdoors compared to non-tanners.[i]^,[ii]

• 83 percent of teens who tan indoors prior to taking sunny vacations report that their indoor tan, combined with the proper use of sunscreen, helps them to prevent sunburn.

• 72 percent of teens would just sunbathe outdoors or purchase home tanning equipment if commercial indoor tanning options were not available. Either of these alternatives is more likely to produce sunburn than controlled exposure at a professional indoor tanning facility.

• Photobiology suggests that burning (not merely tanning) at an early age could increase risk later in life.

• Studies show consistently that indoor tanners sunburn less than non-indoor tanners – including non-indoor tanning teens who tan outdoors.

• Importantly, while it is believed that sunburn incidence at an early age is a risk factor for skin damage, there is no data to suggest that tanning in a non-burning fashion is more dangerous for any specific age group. Project Smart Teen bolsters the role of professional indoor tanning facilities today as the leaders in teaching effective sunburn prevention – including the proper use of sunscreens to prevent sunburn outdoors.

How Project Smart Teen Works

Much like a prom promise, teens are invited to sign an acknowledgement form vowing their commitment to practice intelligent, informed skin care. Staff members at participating facilities review the principles of Smart Tanning (both indoors and out), before teens sign the acknowledgement. The acknowledgement form asks teens and their families to commit to the following:

o I will not burn my skin. I will remember the Golden Rule of Smart Tanning: “Don’t ever sunburn.” That means thinking about sunburn prevention every day, not just when I am suntanning.

o I will be patient. As a tanner, I will follow the guidelines of Smart Tanning and build my tan gradually when tanning indoors and give myself plenty of time to tan before special occasions like prom and spring break.

o I will be responsible. I will use full-spectrum sunscreens properly when outdoors, and I will protect my eyes accordingly when tanning indoors or outdoors.

o I will learn about my skin. I will work with my professional tanning facility to learn my skin type and what it means.

Salons participating in Project Smart Teen have committed to teaching teens and their families – whether they choose to tan or are non-tanners – the following concepts:

1. Avoid Sunburn. The Golden Rule of Smart Tanning is the indispensable rule: Don’t ever sunburn. If you tan indoors, work with your tanning facility to learn to build your tan gradually.

2. Know Your Skin Type. A professional tanning facility will teach you your skin type on a scale from one to six and what that number means. (Type I is the fairest and cannot tan without burning; Type VI is dark black and almost never burns.). 

3. Use Sunscreen Correctly. Use sunscreen outdoors correctly, even if you tan indoors. Apply a full-spectrum sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays before heading outside for best results. Your skin can still tan while using sunscreen.

4. Protect Your Eyes. When outside, protect your eyes with sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays. Always wear proper indoor tanning protective eyewear when tanning in a salon.

5. Be Serious About Your Medications. Some medicines (including many antibiotics, acne medications and birth control pills) can make your skin more susceptible to sunburn and splotches. Talk to your tanning salon staff if you are taking any medications.

6. Practice Makes Perfect. Like school and sports, avoiding sunburn is an everyday job. Make sunburn protection a habit and you won’t slip up and wind up with avoidable damage to your skin.
   
   
7. Give Yourself Time to Tan. Important events like prom, spring break, vacation and graduation take time to get ready for…so does tanning. It doesn’t happen overnight, so talk to your salon staff to get on a schedule that works for your skin type and your tanning goals.

The International Smart Tan Network is the trade association and educational institute for professional indoor tanning facilities, with 3,500 full members representing more than 6,000 professional tanning facilities in the United States and Canada . Smart Tan has published a white paper on the issue of teen tanning. For a complimentary media copy, call the association’s media relations office at 800-652-3269.