Don Smith

FYI:

I am ready to leave for the FDA meeting but I wanted you to know that I have posted (in the "Hot News" section of "Ask TSO" on www.naatso.org) a "review" of the anti-tanning article "Use of Tanning Devices and Risk of Basal Cell and Squamous Cell Skin Cancers" by Karagas, et al, that was published in the 2/6/02 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

This article which was, IMHO, "contrived" to damage the indoor tanning industry, is short on facts and loose with the truth!

You will be seeing information on this study in all of your local ppapers today or tomorrow.

Note to Michael and Solid: Feel free to post a copy of my "review" here. I don't have time (and don't know how) to do it.

Hope this helps you understand why this article is not scientifically valid.

Don

Andy

Here is a press release from SmartTan on the subject.

Feb. 5, 2002

TO: Tanning Industry Leaders
FROM: Joe Levy, International Smart Tan Network

RE: Response to new Skin Cancer Study

Dear Friends:

A study published today in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute is
being interpreted by the lay press as evidence that indoor tanning equipment
causes skin cancer. In fact, the study falls way short of making that case.
Because I received five phone calls today from the press, including the
Associated Press, I have prepared a written statement in response to the
study for our members to use locally to alleviate their cleints' concerns.

I am attaching that below for your information, and am also attaching a copy
of the study.

Thanks.

- Joe Levy

-------------------------------------

Results of Skin Cancer Study Misinterpreted:
International Smart Tan Network

JACKSON, Mich. (Feb. 5) -- A study published in the Journal of the National
Cancer Institute Feb. 6, “Use of Tanning Devices and Risk of Basal Cell and
Squamous Cell Skin Cancers,” did not in fact show any statistically
significant association between indoor tanning and skin cancer.

“The photobiology community knows that a pattern of intermittent sunburn,
aside from hereditary risk factors, is what is most strongly associated with
skin cancer, and tanning salons today are all about sunburn prevention,”
said Joseph Levy, vice president of the International Smart Tan Network, the
educational association for North American indoor tanning facilities. “In
fact, indoor tanners sunburn less outdoors than non-tanners.”

There are important shortcomings in the protocol of the study published in
the NCI Journal that obscure the results:

1. Nearly 60 percent of the indoor tanners used in this study started
tanning indoors before 1975. Commercial tanning salons did not exist in the
United States until 1979 and were not widely available until the mid 1980s.
“These people in the study undoubtedly used older home equipment that
existed before tanning units had scientifically based exposure schedules –
equipment that was used without the supervision of trained operators and,
therefore, was often associated with sunburns,” Levy explained. “These
results have absolutely nothing to do with professional indoor tanning
salons today. The authors failed to make that distinction. It is a critical
omission.”

2. Reviewing the study’s results reveals that the largest increase in odds
ratios for any group is in the group that started tanning with tanning
devices before 1975. For those who started tanning with tanning devices
after 1975, the increases are 1.4 and 1.7 – both of which are not
statistically significant according to accepted epidemiological standards,
especially for a study this small. “Epidemiologists want ORs of 3.0 or
higher before they claim meaningful results, and even then the study has to
control for all the variables involved,” Levy explained.

This study, in fact, only reinforces the not-so-clear-cut picture about
ultraviolet light and skin cancer: Sunburn and a strong intermittent
exposure pattern – not simply regular non-burning exposure – appear to be
the risk factors.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Devices and Radiological
Health, which sets rules governing the manufacture of indoor tanning
equipment in the United States, has conducted perhaps the most thorough
investigation of the potential risks associated with overexposure to
ultraviolet light. Dr. Howard Cyr, senior research biophysicist with FDA who
has led CDRH’s ongoing investigation into research concerning sunlamps and
ultraviolet light, stated the following at an FDA public hearing, Sept. 23,
1998:

“What do we know about (skin cancer)? Non-melanoma skin cancer – we know
that there is a connection with solar exposure, and it is fairly well
defined. There’s lots of studies. In particular, non-melanoma skin cancer or
the basal cell in part is probably connected with intermittent exposures to
sunlight...The situation with tanning salons is even less defined. There are
a few studies out there – probably less than a dozen, maybe four or five of
which have a positive connection between tanning salon exposure and skin
cancer. The confidence limits of – these studies are mostly
(epidemiological) studies – the confidence limits for odds ratios are
enormous, lots of problems with each and every study...We don’t know what
the risk is actually with sunlamps, but whatever the risk is, we need to
compare it with the risk form solar exposures. One of our concerns way at
the very beginning, and now, is these people who are going to tanning
salons, if you didn’t go there, could get the same thing by going outdoors
for the most part during the summer, maybe here in the wintertime you are
not going to get a tan, but you can get a tan from the sun too, the
traditional way, and we also think much more data is needed before the risk
from sunlamps can be better defined.”

Andy

Here is the story on MSN.

http://www.msnbc.com/news/700312.asp#BODY

Andy

This is Michael Here. I'm on Andy's computer at SolarSoft Training Academy.

Sonshinetans

I printed a copy and posted in our store and I also posted one in the newspaper below the article in our lobby.
Shame on them

Andy

What is SolarSoft Training Academy you ask?

Solarsoft have a product that allows a Tanning Salon Owner with multiple locations using Helios POS software to sync / exchange information between salons/stores. The product is called SalonNet.

Each month Solarsoft conduct a Training Academy to provide knowledge on Networking and use of the SalonNet product including training on the SQL custom report writer to get all that data from your salons the way you want it.


Want to know more? http://www.gosolarsoft.com

or give us a call 888.373.5222

Bronze Star

Nobody asked... why are you spamming your own board? Hey want to buy a banner Michael?

CHUNN

That was really me! I was in class all day with Top salon owners from all over the country!