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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 28, 1986)
A Word of Caution on Tonning Booths Tinning booth* My give you i suntan BUT... The ultraviolet radiation they give off can also: •Burn you or Injure your eyes IT you're not careful •Increase the risk of skin cancer 1n later life •Wrinkle your skin prematurely Fluorescent sunlamps emit harmful ultra violet radiation called ’UVB". Some booths are advertised as "safe" because they emit a different kind of u travlolet radiation called *UVA". But many of these UVA booths also give off UVB. Further there Is con concern about the risks of UVA, too. So the following precautions apply to any type of tanning booth. You should not use a sun tanning booth If: •You sunburn easily and don't tan. If you don't tan In the sun, you probably won't get a tan In a booth. •You get frequent cold sores. Ultra violet radiation may aggravate their appearance. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before using a tanning booth If you are ta king any prescription drugs. Some drugs can Increase your reaction to ultraviolet radiation. These drugs may not make you noticeably more sensitive to orelnary sun light but they may make you painfully sen sitive to the Intense ultraviolet light 1n tanning booths. These drugs Include but are not limited to: Many antibiotics, such as sulfas and tetracyclines Some high blood pressure medications Some tranquilizers, such as Librium Diuretics Some birth control pills Some oral medications used In treat ing diabetes. After considering the risks, 1f you still decide to use a tanning booth, be sure to follow these precautions: •DON’T OVLRDO IT! -Just as with na tural sunlight, you must begin with short Intervals, then build up your exposure times. •DON'T TAMPER WITH THE TIMER - The radiation 1s so Intense In a tannlnq booth that staying there longer than you should can seriously Injure you. * USE PROTECTIVE GOGGLES - Just closing your eyes or uslnq ordinary sunglasses or cotton balls Is not enough. People have received painful eye burns be cause they did not use special goggles to screen the ultraviolet. Goggles should be used with UVA tanning booths as well as UVB booths. * AVOID DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE LAMPS - The tanning booth should have physical barriers, such as wire screens or plas tic shields, to protect you from touch ing or falling Into the lamps. * USE HANDRAILS - The booth should have a railing or other aid to help you keep your balance and maintain the proper dis tance from the lamp. * INSURE THAT - An attendant Is nearby to help help you 1n an emergency. A Herpes Education/Support Croup Meets every Wednesday evening at 7 pa In Century Conference Room in the EMU. The group is facilitated by Carolyn Pursley, a graduate student In counseling. There is no fee to attend and everyone, from herpes sufferers, friends and interested parties are welcome. For further information, call the Lifestyle Planning Program at 686-44S6. s i i l
