Everyone's free to wear sunscreen

Dermatologist encourages using common sense in the sun, discourages use of tanning beds

By: Sara Norgon

Posted: 4/30/07

Summer's coming up, and that means sun, sand and swimsuits.

A sun-kissed glow is something students like to have before the summer season. Senior Angie Linduska, an employee at The Tannery, 427 Water St., said the company's busiest time of year is during the spring, especially right before spring break.

"With weddings and prom, we stay pretty busy," she said, adding one of the more popular packages is 300 minutes for $60.

Tanning - or "fake baking," as some refer to it - is a way to get the look of a tan without spending hours outdoors in the heat.

Sophomore Nikki Housner said she has a sun allergy and uses tanning beds to get a "base color" before going on trips, so the harsh sun isn't such a shock to her skin.

Dr. Nyles Eskritt, a dermatologist at Plaza Dermatology in Stevens Point, warned of some of the side effects of using tanning beds.

"They play more of a role in wrinkling the skin and thinning and aging the skin," he said, adding he doesn't recommend them.

Eskritt said there are different types of rays that cause the skin to tan. UVA, or long-wave ultra violet rays, which he said are most common in tanning beds, are responsible for aging the skin and causing wrinkles and sun damage.

"The UVA that you get at the tanning beds just darkens the pigment in the skin," he said, adding there is currently no proof linking exposure to UVA rays with skin cancer.

The more harmful UVB rays are the ones that have been linked with skin cancers, he said, including melanoma, which can result in death.

Linduska said The Tannery has different types of beds, including the Turbo bed - which doesn't have UVB rays, so it is gentler on the skin. She added they always recommend clients use a lotion when tanning.

"(Lotions) are important in keeping the skin moisturized," she said. "You'll get a better tan and a more even tan."

She explained that some of the lotions available include SPF protection or bronzers.

"The lotions with bronzers react with the pigment in the skin, which rises to the top when you tan and that's why you get a darker color," she said.

Eskritt said to be careful of photodermatitus, or photo allergy. He also said someone taking photosensitive medications, such as Naprosin, which is found in Aleve, should not tan in tanning beds.

Linduska said The Tannery posts a medication list, and has new clients fill out a sheet to make sure they don't have possible health risks. She also stressed the importance of eye protection when tanning.

"Eyewear is important because you can get really bad infections in your eyes (without it)," she said.

One way to get that glow without battling harsh rays is by getting an air-brush or spray-on tan, which darkens the skin's pigment and lasts about 10 days.

Eskritt said there aren't any medical side effects of spray-on tans unless one has an allergy to the dye, but spray-ons can make the skin look orange.

Housner said she got an air-brush tan once but didn't like it.

"After a couple days it would fade off in different parts and look patchy - almost like I was dirty," she said.

Eskritt said the best way to get a natural tan is to spend 10 to 20 minutes in the sun and then apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15.

SPF - or sun protective factor - he explained, refers to the amount of time someone can stay out in the sun without getting burnt.

For example, he said, if someone normally would get burnt after five minutes of exposure to the sun and use a lotion with an SPF of 15, that person could stay outside 15 times that - or an hour and 15 minutes - before getting a sunburn.

"It's important to re-apply it every three to four hours," Eskritt said, adding if someone plans on being in the water, he or she should apply a waterproof or water resistant lotion 20 minutes before going in the water.

Eskritt also said people with lighter skin should use a lotion with a higher SPF when spending time outside.

"What you have to do is use common sense," he said.