neon

Don,
It has been mentioned previously by you that the Smart Tan skin typing form is out dated. Where can I find a current skin typing form complient with the Fitzpatrick scale per Texas Department of Health TAnning facility rules section 229.354?

YOu would think that the TDH website would help, but there is nothing available.

Don Smith

Neon:

I will post the details on both our 3-2 format (2a; 2B; 2C; 3A; 3B; 4; 5; 6) and our new 3-3 format (2A; 2B; 2C; 3A; 3B; 3C; 4; 5; 6) in the TanTalk e-Magazine section (where it can be printed out) shortly.

First of all, Dr. Fitzpatrick DID NOT develop his 1-6 system (1-2-3-4-5-6) for use in a tanning salon. He developed it to help determine the "dose" of UVR and 8-MOP to be used in PUVA therapy for psoraisis. Moreover, his "system" was based upon a personal interview BY A PHYSICIAN of the patient.

Obviously, that is not what we do. Our use of a skin typing system is to determine, IN ADVANCE, our clients tolerance to UVR as determined by tanning salon personnel.

The first system that we developed was a skin type 1-6 (1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6) system that was "based" upon the Fitzpatrick system. It was "used" by Smart Tan to develop the system they offer without even the courtesy of giving Pat and I credit for developing it!

After using the 1-6 system for a while, we saw that it had serious limitations, especially in determining tolerance to UVR for skin type 2's. Thus, we decided to add "subtypes" to skin type 2 (2A; 2B; and 2C) and skin type 3 (3A and 3B) in order to remedy these limitations. [Note: Dr. Cesarini in Europe had "modified" the Fitzpatrick "system" by adding subtypes.]

Our reason for having subtypes was because we recognized that if you base your IST (initial session time) calculation for a skin type 2A (the most sensitive skin type 2) on the "mean" of the skin type 2 poplulation (skin subtype 2B), you will risk overexposing the skin type 2A.

When I presented our concept last year at the ASP (American Society of Photobiology) meeting, several physicans in attendance suggested that I either (1) go to 1 subtype of skin type 3 or 3 subtypes of skin type 3 to make the logic with skin type 3's the same. After some investigation we decided that going to 3 subtypes of skin type 3's INCREASED the safety margin while going to 1 suptype of skin type 3's DECREASED the safety margin and so we decided to go with the safest approach. Thus, the 3-3 format (which we have been using for the past year came into being.

It is my understanding that the Texas Department of Health recognizes our original system (the Smart Tan format) AND our newer systems.

So, Neon, there is no "Fitzpatrick System" questionnaire other than our original system because Dr. Fitzpatrick's system was administered by a physician.

The important thing is to use either the 1-2-3-4-5-6 (our original system) or 1-2A-2B-2C-3A-3B-4-5-6 (our 3-2 system) or 1-2A-2B-2C-3A-3B-3C-4-5-6 (our 3-3 system) and not just "guess" the skin type of the individual!

Don

neon

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229.354 TDH

(c) Individual consumer records.

(1) An individual consumer record shall be kept by the facility operator and shall include:


(C) the length of exposure to each tanning device in minutes and the identity of the device responsible for the exposure;

(D) the date and time of each exposure;

(E) any injuries or illnesses resulting from the use of a tanning device;

(F) any written informed consent statement required to be signed in this section;

(G) the consumer's skin type, as determined by the consumer by using the Fitzpatrick scale;

(H) whether the consumer has a family history of skin cancer; and

(I) whether the consumer has a past medical history of skin cancer.
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Copied from the TDH website.

Thank you for your quick response, and thank you for taking the time to post your forms, and I have no desire to "guess" anyones skin type. I am still new at this and have been using the Smart Tan form.

When I called them yesterday the y;oung lady I talked to had never heard of the word "Fitzpatrick" and had no knowledge of Texas requiring anything such. Although she did know of the rules 1H and 1I regarding the consumers medical history.

Gives me great confidence in her as my rep. to help us here in Texas.


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[ This Message was edited by: neon on 2002-09-12 08:44 ]

neon

Thank you Tangirl and Tamar for assisting me with the TDH regulations. Ya'll are too cool!

neon

Don,
I went from here to eMagazine and saw that you did post a link for your new form...thanks to you also, I just sent you my email.

shallee