A new organization of tanning salons has formed, vowing to correct "misinformation about sunlight and sunbeds while raising the professional standards in American sun tanning centers."
The New York–based American Suntanning Association arrived with a shot across the bow, claiming that its members offered a "professional" experience that is less risky than that which someone might receive at a dermatologist’s office. In its first press release the organization said that "medical usage of sunbeds in doctor’s offices to treat cosmetic skin disease often involves intentional sunburn – sometimes even blistering sunburn."
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The group says that studies of indoor tanning’s risk aren’t legitimate because they "don’t actually study professional sunbed salons, but rather include sunbeds used to treat cosmetic conditions in doctors’ offices and unmonitored home-based tanning units."
Further, stated the ASA, "when home and medical sunbeds are removed from these studies, the risk connected to professional salons virtually disappears."
The group offered no research or citations to support that claim, but said that it plans to eventually issue its own reports and studies.
It also claimed that 3 million people are referred to indoor tanning by their doctors each year – and that this underscores the need for a more "balanced" discussion of indoor tanning.
"Consumers who choose to tan – and it should be their choice – need to be able to do so based on correct information about the potential benefits and risks of UV exposure," ASA member Jan Meshon, owner of City Sun Tanning in New York City, said in a statement.
The ASA says that it is the largest organization of indoor tanning providers. It noted that there are 14,000 salons in the United States, but it’s not clear how many of them are members of the ASA.
Although ASA is new, it’s not the only game in town for tanning salons – the Washington, D.C.–based Indoor Tanning Association also represents these establishments. It’s not clear how many members that group has, but it keeps a relatively low profile, only periodically issuing statements. Its last big battle was over the tax imposed on tanning salons by the Affordable Care Act that went into effect earlier this year.
--By Alicia Ault (a.ault@elsevier.com; Twitter @aliciaault)