Local letter to editor disputes contention tanning beds are safe

Tracy · 01-25-2001, 08:12 PM

Here's my situation, 4 wks ago our local paper did an artical in my salon asking me what i thought about a recent artical written on skin cancer. After the artical was published i had to write a letter to the editor becouse the artical sounded a little negative towards the tanning industry, after that letter was published a 22 yr.old girl who had just found out she has a malignant melanoma wrote a letter and stated and i quote"Tanning beds are not safer than the sun. They are just as dangerous, if not worse!" If any of you can help me in writing another letter to help educate the public i would really appreciate it. THANKS

Tan-U-Too · 01-26-2001, 12:27 AM

Remind the public that indoor tanning is an controlled environment. Without the sun we would die. With too much sun we could die.Too much of anything is bad. Take alchohol for example. Tanning indoors is a luxury and privelage. It is not meant to be abused. No one should go every day.That's a tuff situation to defend. Good Luck!!!

Tracy · 01-26-2001, 08:29 AM

Tan-U-Too, I did remind the public that indoor tanning is a controlled environment, I also quoted from the smart tan "media" papers about..studies showing people who recieve regular sun exposure have less chance of getting melanoma than those who don't. I even went as far to quote the "Water causes drowning". I'm not sure if i should let it go our should i respond and how to respond!

BOBER96 · 01-26-2001, 08:05 PM

Wow, that is a tough situation!Have you contacted Smart Tan to see if they might consider responding or at least help you in preparing a response?I know Don Smith has a lot on his plate right now, but contacting him may help as well. www.naatso.org Good luck and keep us posted!

Dee · 01-26-2001, 11:41 PM

I agree with contacting Smart Tan. They are the professional association in our tanning industry and have the facts and responses to dealing with the media.

Tracy · 01-27-2001, 08:30 AM

Thanks!! I did contact Smart Tan on Jan. 26 and told them of my situation and that with me being the ONLY salon in town that is a member I felt it best for them to handle this situation,(it might have more of an impact coming from them) and they said YES they would help,I'm going to fax all 3 articles to them and Joe Levy will then write a letter to the editor and hopefully we can put an end to this topic....at least for the time being!!!! I'll keep you up to date and again THANKS!!!!

Tan-U-Too · 01-27-2001, 12:56 PM

Push them to make this information public.You don't want them to just file it away somewear. Maybe you could contact a reporter from this paper to do an article with you. Back it up with smart tans info.

Gene · 01-27-2001, 01:45 PM

If melanoma has the long latency period they say (I've heard 10 to 20 years) it's unlikely this 22 year old got it from sun over-exposure at all. It's probably a genetic thing, like most cancers.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
So you wanna open a tanning salon?	Neon Beach	Open Forum	60	02-02-2007 03:50 PM
Why use an indoor tanning lotion.......	Neon Beach	Lotion Buzz	2	10-28-2006 07:40 PM
Somebody outta be SPANKED	Sheila in Minnesota	Open Forum	75	06-26-2005 09:10 AM

01-25-2001, 08:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
Tracy Waiting Confirmation Join Date: Jan 19 2001 Posts: 10 Rep Power: 0	Here's my situation, 4 wks ago our local paper did an artical in my salon asking me what i thought about a recent artical written on skin cancer. After the artical was published i had to write a letter to the editor becouse the artical sounded a little negative towards the tanning industry, after that letter was published a 22 yr.old girl who had just found out she has a malignant melanoma wrote a letter and stated and i quote"Tanning beds are not safer than the sun. They are just as dangerous, if not worse!" If any of you can help me in writing another letter to help educate the public i would really appreciate it. THANKS

01-26-2001, 12:27 AM	#2 (permalink)
Tan-U-Too Join Date: Dec 5 2000 Posts: 379 Rep Power: 9	Remind the public that indoor tanning is an controlled environment. Without the sun we would die. With too much sun we could die.Too much of anything is bad. Take alchohol for example. Tanning indoors is a luxury and privelage. It is not meant to be abused. No one should go every day.That's a tuff situation to defend. Good Luck!!!

01-26-2001, 08:29 AM	#3 (permalink)
Tracy Waiting Confirmation Join Date: Jan 19 2001 Posts: 10 Rep Power: 0	Tan-U-Too, I did remind the public that indoor tanning is a controlled environment, I also quoted from the smart tan "media" papers about..studies showing people who recieve regular sun exposure have less chance of getting melanoma than those who don't. I even went as far to quote the "Water causes drowning". I'm not sure if i should let it go our should i respond and how to respond!

01-26-2001, 08:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
BOBER96 Join Date: Oct 17 2000 Posts: 1,009 Rep Power: 9	Wow, that is a tough situation!Have you contacted Smart Tan to see if they might consider responding or at least help you in preparing a response?I know Don Smith has a lot on his plate right now, but contacting him may help as well. www.naatso.org Good luck and keep us posted!

01-26-2001, 11:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
Dee Join Date: Jan 26 2001 Posts: 74 Rep Power: 0	I agree with contacting Smart Tan. They are the professional association in our tanning industry and have the facts and responses to dealing with the media.

01-27-2001, 08:30 AM	#6 (permalink)
Tracy Waiting Confirmation Join Date: Jan 19 2001 Posts: 10 Rep Power: 0	Thanks!! I did contact Smart Tan on Jan. 26 and told them of my situation and that with me being the ONLY salon in town that is a member I felt it best for them to handle this situation,(it might have more of an impact coming from them) and they said YES they would help,I'm going to fax all 3 articles to them and Joe Levy will then write a letter to the editor and hopefully we can put an end to this topic....at least for the time being!!!! I'll keep you up to date and again THANKS!!!!

01-27-2001, 12:56 PM	#7 (permalink)
Tan-U-Too Join Date: Dec 5 2000 Posts: 379 Rep Power: 9	Push them to make this information public.You don't want them to just file it away somewear. Maybe you could contact a reporter from this paper to do an article with you. Back it up with smart tans info.

01-27-2001, 01:45 PM	#8 (permalink)
Gene Waiting Confirmation Join Date: Dec 8 2000 Posts: 212 Rep Power: 0	If melanoma has the long latency period they say (I've heard 10 to 20 years) it's unlikely this 22 year old got it from sun over-exposure at all. It's probably a genetic thing, like most cancers.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)