Fox 13 News typical BS Coverage over Potential Indoor Tanning Law Changes

by Extreme John on March 26, 2009 1,717 views

I know through the last year I have had my comments about shi*head news casters on the local news as well as on major network news stations like Fox News and CNN but I typically don’t post many rants about news coverage in general because most of the news just annoys the hell out of me anyway. Last night was no different, there is a new law that lawmakers are trying to pass which would change the minimum age for Indoor Tanning in the state of Florida. To be totally honest with you I have no problem with the law or the fact that there might be changes in the law, I have learned in a free country there really honestly aren’t as many “freedoms” as we think there are, however when it comes to tanning minors and the safety of Indoor Tanning clients Extreme Tan has always put the customers safety first.

Where my problem begins to form is when every sound bite and interview in regards to the topic turns into “Skin Cancer reports are up and Indoor Tanning is to Blame” (thats not an exact quote my memory isn’t perfect). The point I am making here is that out of all the things that can cause Skin Cancer the only one they are willing to talk about is Indoor Tanning and than the knuckle heads that want to pass the law also don’t see past Tanning Salons and look at the real Issue and the Real Answer, instead Target set… Indoor Tanning Salons. I think it’s important to outline a few missed facts and key points in regards to Indoor Tanning, Tanning Outdoors and the links of those things to Skin Cancer. A lot of you will think Im biased because I am a Indoor Tanning Salon owner, and they much is probably also true however I am a realist and I look at the reality of ANY situation regardless if Im biased or not. Let’s look at a few key things that Fox News could have also noted in their broadcast during the 6 o’clock news and the late night edition of the News.

FACTS:

Right this very second more people are outside and exposed to the Florida sun than there is people Tanning in Indoor Tanning Salons throughout the entire state.

There are more reported counts of Skin Cancer (melanoma) today than there have been in previous years…. The Tanning Index is a 9 or 10 and almost locked on a 10 for about 8 months in Florida, think that might have something to do with it? Maybe?? Yeah one would think, the Ozone layer is also depleated now more than ever before anyone wanna factor that in?

Indoor Tanners are also Outdoor Tanners, not all but more than enough. Perhaps education about the dangers of slapping Baby Oil or low SPF Outdoor Tanning lotions, of course mixed with people not using lotion at all outdoors and maybe just mayyyyyybe some of those reported cases will decrease.

Addressing Teen Tanning is an excellent idea, addressing Teens Tanning Indoors and not looking at what goes on in outdoor tanning is a massive mistake. Teens and parents need to be educated of the dangers of OVER EXPOSURE to UV period! Parents need to be educating their children about the dangers of tanning outdoors just the same way we teach our children to look both ways before crossing the street.

Tanning Indoors is Tanning in a CONTROLLED Enviornment, with a Tan Index of 8,9 or the most common 10 around here there is NO Control in Outdoor Tanning and the exposure to those UV Rays. Wouldn’t you rather have some control?

I can continue to name important FACTS about Indoor Tanning and how it is much safer than uncontrolled Outdoor Tanning,what is more important than sitting here and naming every possible variable is working on helping to resolve the issue. New laws are not going to change the education level of any Indoor or Outdoor Tanner and it certainly will not help parents to make better more informed decisions about what their children do. I have spent most of today working on a few things that we will begin to do immediately to EDUCATE customers, parents and teen tanners at Extreme Tan and Smoothies about the dangers of over exposure to any type of UV light.

Here are just a few things you can do regardless if your tanning indoors or outdoors to help protect your skin from over exposure to UV light.

Information on Safe Tanning Outdoors:
1) Use a higher SPF Quality Outdoor Tanning Lotion, especially in the early stages of being exposed to natural sun light.

2) Apply your Outdoor Tanning Lotions generously and often, especially after swimming.

3) On higher Tanning Index days limit your exposure to sunlight in order to ensure that you do not develop a burn.

4) Stop being insane, “Getting a Good Burn” is NEVER a good idea. Every time you burn your skin you are damaging the layers of skin on your body.

5) All ages need protection when exposed to the sun for extended periods of time, keep granny and the kids covered with a High SPF Outdoor Tanning lotion and apply it often!

Information on Safe Indoor Tanning:

1) Avoid tanning indoors and outdoors on the same day.

2) Florida State Law requires that you wait 24 hours between Indoor Tanning Sessions, this is extremely important as your skin needs recovery time and as opposedto causing damage to your skin you will actually develop a deeper darker longer lasting tan.

3) Use INDOOR Tanning lotions when Tanning Indoors, the vitamins and the minerals are essential to protecting your skin. Not to mention it gives you a deeper darker tan.

4) Avoid using Outdoor Tanning lotions when Tanning Indoors, they are not formulated for Indoor Tanning that’s why they are outdoor tanning lotions.

5) Know the tanning beds in the tanning salon you go to, many salons have very powerful base beds are much larger than the old school 22 bulb 30 minute beds. For example our average 20 Minute Tanning Bed has 32 bulbs with face tanners, that is a lot more powerful than a 20 minute bed with no facials and 22-24 bulbs.

If you do a few things mentioned above you can reduce the amount of times you tan in a week at any Indoor Tanning salon, you will see excellent results without destroying your skin while trying to do so.

Education is the Answer, not one sided News broadcasting or silly laws that don’t take every factor into account.