By Robert Bazell

Chief science and health correspondent

NBC News

updated 5:54 p.m. MT, Mon., Jan. 19, 2004

Tamara Smith visits a tanning parlor when she can’t be outside in the sun. “I’m always indoors. I don’t go outside,” says Smith.

Many doctors say ultraviolet light from the sun or a tanning machine is dangerous because of the risks associated with skin cancer. But some health experts, such as Dr. Michael Holick of Boston University, disagree.

“I believe that Americans have gone overboard with their fear of the sun. I think that sensible exposure to sunlight is really important for your overall health and well-being,” says Holick.

The reason for the concern is vitamin D, essential for bone strength and other health needs, which our skin makes through exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

We need 1,000 units of vitamin D a day, but a glass of milk supplies only 100 units and a multivitamin only 400. So most people need the sun in order to avoid deficiency.

Sunscreens can reduce vitamin D production
Now, new research has found that wearing sunscreen continuously can reduce the amount of vitamin D a person is able to make.

“We looked at individuals that always wore a sunscreen before they went outside. … And we found that, indeed at the end of the summer, they were deficient in vitamin D,” says Holick. “And so we have shown over and over again that adults, even if they’re on a multivitamin, and drinking milk, if they always wear sun protection, or avoid any direct sun exposure, they’re at high risk of developing vitamin D deficiency.”

Rooftop measurements of sunlight show that, for most people, getting enough sunlight exposure at this time of year is not easy, even for people who don’t regularly wear sunscreen. In the middle of the winter on a very sunny day in a city as far north as Boston, there’s not enough sunlight for people to get sufficient quantities of vitamin D.

The good news is that if you get enough sun during the rest of the year, it carries you through the winter, says Holick.

Or there are machines. In Holick’s lab he put young people in tanning machines and measured their bone density.

“Tanners had higher bone density on average than non-tanners,” says Holick.

Still, he cautions against the dangers of skin cancer and warns people not to go overboard. However, it is critical, he says, to realize the sun’s rays are not always our enemy.

© 2007 MSNBC Interactive

 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/4001343#4001343

Tanning found to protect against melanoma by releasing tumor suppressor protein

There may be a relationship between the process that causes the body to tan and its defenses against skin cancer, according to a study conducted by scientists from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and published in “Cell.” Tanning has actually been found to prevent cancer tumors.

Read the rest of this article: Natural News

According to a new theory, sealing our skins off from the sun may cause more cancer deaths than it prevents.

Read the rest of this article: Harvard Magazine

Always wear eye protection when tanning equipment is turned on. Ultraviolet light normally does not cause immediate pain or discomfort, but can after your visit is over.

Use your protective eyewear as instructed. If you’re not sure how to wear them properly, ask your salon attendant.

Exclusive Tans Salon sanitizes all protective eyewear, but for your ultimate protection, we recommend purchasing your own. Ask the front desk how you can obtain your own.

Raccoon eyes can be minimized by gently adjusting protective eyewear during tanning sessions. Never lift eyewear off of your eyes to adjust their position.

Most importantly, relax and enjoy your visit to Exclusive Tans!