Tanning is a Dirty Business

If dying from melanoma and accelerating the aging appearance of your skin are not sufficient deterrents to frequenting tanning salons, perhaps knowing that the hygiene of the tanning beds is equivalent to that of the public toilet seats at the gas station will be convincing.

Recently, two dermatologists from the department of dermatology at New York University Medical Center went undercover to the top ten tanning salons (as rated in a popular women's fashion magazine) in Manhattan and surreptitiously took culture samples from the tanning beds. Ten out of ten salons grew out microbial pathogens. One of the salons had posted a sign by the tanning bed stating that it had just been sanitized! The most commonly cultured bacteria were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas putida, various Bacillus species,

Klebsiella pneumonia, Enterococcus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterobacter cloacae. All of these bacteria have been associated with serious skin infections. A number of these bacteria can be found in the colon.

These are some of the bacteria that grew out of the tanning beds.

For example, the bacteria known as Pseudomonas can cause pneumonia, urinary tract infections, ear infections, and rarely even meningitis and brain abscess. The first step in developing a skin infection with these organisms is bacterial attachment to the skin resulting in colonization. If there is a break in the skin, (an open wound, a rash such as eczema or other dermatitis) the bacteria can enter the skin. The third stage occurs when the bacteria gains entry into the bloodstream and causes systemic infection.

Very few states have guidelines for indoor tanning bed sanitation regulations. Furthermore, these regulations are rarely enforced. In this study, no cleaning was observed prior to usage of the tanning beds. Because usage of tanning facilities requires direct contact of patrons' skin with the bed surface, the potential for transmitting pathogenic bacteria and developing serious skin infections is a very real health concern.

Very few states have guidelines for indoor tanning bed sanitation regulations. Furthermore, these regulations are rarely enforced. In this study, no cleaning was observed prior to usage of the tanning beds. Because usage of tanning facilities requires direct contact of patrons' skin with the bed surface, the potential for transmitting pathogenic bacteria and developing serious skin infections is a very real health concern.