Investigators Uncover Tanning Salon Fallacies (Email these Morons)

[Neon Beach]

DENVER -- In an undercover investigation, 7NEWS Investigators found that tanning salons are not only targeting young women, but some are not telling the truth about the dangers of lying in the beds.

7NEWS Investigators took a hidden camera into area tanning salons and found that some clerks made sales pitches that sound like spending time on a tanning bed is absolutely safe and can actually provide essential health benefits.


Never did the clerks mention the dangers of skin cancer.


"Tanning is completely natural," a tanning clerk said. "You need to have it to live."

"The UVA is going to be safer, just because it's not the burning ray," another clerk said.

"They are all safe. It's all under a controlled environment," a third clerk said.

The sales pitches said tanning indoors is a great thing for someone's body with little risk to his or her health.

"If people frequent tanning salons, they're putting themselves at risk for tremendous UV exposure, which leads to skin cancer and has been proven to lead to skin cancer," said Denver dermatologist Dr. Joel Cohen.

Cohen chairs the education committee for a national surgeons group. He deals with skin cancer and its devastating effects.

"There are decades of research showing that UVB is associated with the formation of skin cancer," Cohen said. "There are newer studies showing that UVA is definitely involved with the formation of melanoma and basal cell carcinoma. And the two in combination is much more damaging."

7NEWS Investigators took hidden cameras into a number of area tanning salons asking questions about the safety of tanning.

They specifically chose some salons that advertise in high school newspapers, targeting kids.

"You're not burning at all. You're just slowly developing a base tan, or (if you're) tanning even on a regular basis, then nothing bad comes from that," one clerk said.

"They're potentially affecting their degree of getting a burn from sun exposure," Cohen said. "But they're certainly not protecting themselves against the harmful rays or UV rays that can cause, and in many cases, do cause skin cancer."

When asked if tanning contributes to skin cancer, Tech Tans owner, Marcus Brady, said, "It's been linked. It's never been proven."

Brady defended his co-owner of Tech-Tans, Rick Myers, who, in an undercover video, touts the safety of indoor tanning.

"If you tan regularly, it's not going to contribute to skin cancer?" Ferrugia asked Brady.

"That's right," Brady said.

"And you tell people that?" Ferrugia asked.

"Yes," Brady said.

"Some articles out there have said that it can actually help reduce skin cancer because there's vitamin D in the beds. So, that can actually help with that," a tanning clerk said.

Cohen said the clerk's sales pitch said sun is good for people.

"The problem is she's not referring to many of the studies that show UV radiation causes skin cancer," Cohen said.

While some comments seemed misinformed, Cohen said others are simply dangerous.

"The sun plays a factor to a point with different, you know, squamous cell and basal cell, which is more of a burn type of thing, but not life-threatening," said Myers, in the hidden-camera investigation.

Brady said he had no idea if squamous cell or basal cell carcinoma was life-threatening.

"Tanning doesn't contribute to (squamous or basal cell carcinoma)?" Ferrugia asked.

"No," Brady said.

"Many people die from squamous cell carcinoma and that's cumulative sun exposure, whether that's outdoor sunlight or tanning salon exposure," Cohen said.

"I would be amazed if you had any kind of malignant or melanoma or any kind of just slight cancers from that bed," a clerk said. "I guarantee you wouldn't, unless you already have some."

"Our first response is to laugh at these fallacies that are being disseminated to people who walk into tanning salons," Cohen said. "The reality is, this is very dangerous behavior."

Even as he defends the safety of tanning, Brady had a tough time explaining the waiver each of his customers has to sign.

"You are telling me here that you want me to sign something saying I can get increased skin cancer, and yet you're telling me that there is no increased risk. It doesn't mesh," Ferrugia said. "What that says is, you can increase your incidence of skin cancer."

"So? You can increase your incidence of drowning by drinking water," Brady said.

7NEWS Investigators visited nine separate tanning salons. 7NEWS talked with the owners of three salons including Elite Tans in Centennial and Darque Tan in Denver.

The owners claim that tanning in moderation is safe and that it contributes to vitamin D intake that keeps people healthy. They said tanning can help improve a person's mood during winter months and keep people from getting burned. Burning, they claim, is the main concern.

In each of the nine salons visited, 7NEWS Investigators got questionable information.

Cohen said that is simply dangerous, especially for kids.

Have a question or comment on this story? Or have a story idea or news tip? E-mail the Investigators or call us at 303-832-TIPS.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news...18/detail.html


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Belvy better be on top of this one!!!!!!!!

[hockey92]

jesus.... here we go again.

[Neon Beach]

"There are decades of research showing that UVB is associated with the formation of skin cancer," Cohen said. "There are newer studies showing that UVA is definitely involved with the formation of melanoma and basal cell carcinoma. And the two in combination is much more damaging."

Where?? Name them please you morons. They always say there are studies, but never quote them, wth???

[JensSunQuest]

Well Perhaps I should email them those witch hunting jerks!! In my studying of broadcasting I have learned and seen first hand how the questions are munipulated to get the response or awkard answers they want.....more then likely the person being interviewed isn't recording the conversation and therefore can't prove if that was the question asked......I would send a letter expressing with a lawyers stamp claiming defimation of character as you painted to look like butcher....... Polls are one of the most rigged things the media used they ask the questions in a manner to get the answer they want and often they rig them.....
I think we should all email this station....UG UG today is an Ug day LOL

[Neon Beach]

mailto:7newsinvestigates@thedenverchanne l.com

[Neon Beach]

Hi bob!

[hoptan]

This is the kind of attention this industry can do without.

[Neon Beach]

Uh huh.

[JensSunQuest]

sent them a very informative email......I even threw in rules of good journalism straight from the text book they may be ignorant about our business but its doesn't mean we are about theirs.... Fair and Balanced is the creed in journalism and this seemed very one side....if they were on a boat they would have tipped grrr anything for an alarmist story!

[Neon Beach]

tee hee hee