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.
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