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May 13
2009
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Not everyone can enjoy the benefits of indoor tanning. People who have an exceptionally fair skin type, are pregnant, have a photosensitivity to light, or are currently taking medications that may cause photosensitivity, then tanning may not be for them.
As a tanning salon owner, you need to check with your customers to see if they fall into any of the following categories. This can help you avoid angry customers, or worse, legal trouble.
According to the FDA (link: http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/496_sun.html), photoallergies occur when UV light actually changes the drug, causing the body to create antibodies which, in turn, results in an allergic reaction. Photophobia typically refers to patients who avoid light because their eyes are particularly sensitive to it. Finally, phototoxicity is essentially drastically increased skin sensitivity, resulting in a burn and potential skin or cell damage.
Common Photosensitizers
Here is a very small sample of the most common drugs that may cause photosensitivities:
As a tanning salon owner, you need to check with your customers to see if they fall into any of the following categories. This can help you avoid angry customers, or worse, legal trouble.
People With a Type 1/Fair Skin Type
According to the FDA, you should not try indoor tanning if "you sunburn easily and do not tan. Skin that does not tan in the sun will probably not tan under a sunlamp." (link: http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/tanning/tanningproducts.html). These are usually redheads and people who freckle in the sun. However, it's important to remember that because you can control the length of exposure with a tanning bed, tanning for fair-skinned individuals may be possible by starting off slow and gradually increasing exposure time with each visit. Again though, if you have concerns, please consult your physician.
People with Photosensitivities
Some people are allergic to sunlight and UV rays, this is called photosensitivity and prolonged exposure typically causes a rash. Obviously, these people should avoid indoor tanning.People Taking Medications Causing Photosensitivity, Photophobia or Phototoxicity
Various medications, topical products and injections can cause photosensitivities such as photoallergies, photophobia or phototoxicity - each a type of adverse reaction to UV rays.According to the FDA (link: http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/496_sun.html), photoallergies occur when UV light actually changes the drug, causing the body to create antibodies which, in turn, results in an allergic reaction. Photophobia typically refers to patients who avoid light because their eyes are particularly sensitive to it. Finally, phototoxicity is essentially drastically increased skin sensitivity, resulting in a burn and potential skin or cell damage.
Common Photosensitizers
Here is a very small sample of the most common drugs that may cause photosensitivities:
| Brand Name | Generic Name | Therapeutic Class |
| Motrin | ibuprofen | NSAID, antiarthritic |
| Crystodigin | digitoxin | antiarrhythmic |
| Sinequan | doxepin | antidepressant |
| Cordarone | amiodarone | antiarrhythmic |
| Bactrim | trimethoprim | antibiotic |
| Diabinese | chlorpropamide | antidiabetic (oral) |
| Feldene | piroxicam | NSAID, antiarthritic |
| Vibramycin | doxycycline | antibiotic |
| Phenergan | promethazine | antihistamine |
