The tanning salon: an area survey of equipment, procedures, and practices.
Because so little data are available on practices and procedures used by tanning salons, we studied, as customers, salons in a major city in Arkansas, the state where the practice began. We measured both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) output at multiple reference points and found UVB always to be present, but at lower-than-expected levels. The highest irradiance was always at the umbilicus and the lowest was on the face. We evaluated compliance with accepted safety principles and federal guidelines and regulations; too often we found no eye protection and sometimes we found inadequate limits of exposure time. Persons with skin types I and II were sometimes promised a safe, effective UVA tan that would protect against sunburn. From our experience we concluded that if the industry is to continue, there is need for closer supervision and regulation.
Bruyneel-Rapp
F
F
Department of Dermatology, John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital, Little Rock, AR.
Dorsey
S B
SB
Guin
J D
JD
D004864:Equipment and Supplies / Q000592:standards; D005135:Eye Protective Devices / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006801:Humans; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000592:standards*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D013471:Sunburn / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration