| When tanning beds first hit the markets, the sole | | | | are college-age women. But in the most recent |
| purpose of this technology, to provide indoor tanning, | | | | market research, about 30% of tanning bed users |
| is simply cosmetic in nature. Obtaining a gorgeous | | | | are now composed of men. A similar survey of |
| dark olive skin seemed trivial and the tanning bed is | | | | Canadian tanning salons showed a comparable data. |
| less grand compared to other technological inventions. | | | | That is, 25% of all patrons of 160 Canadian tanning |
| Thus, the primary users of tanning beds are young | | | | salons are male. The percentages are expected to |
| women who only wanted a tan to show off to their | | | | increase since the tanning salons now are built |
| friends. | | | | separate from hair and beauty salons. Men will be |
| Further studies, however, showed that tanning beds | | | | more comfortable entering tanning salons. |
| are not only useful for darkening the skin. The | | | | An interesting data came out of the survey regarding |
| ultraviolet radiation emitted by the tanning bed lamps | | | | male users. One tanning salon reported that though |
| has been found to enforce vitamin D production in | | | | 27% of its clientele are male, 40% of its profits |
| the human skin in the same way that the direct | | | | come from the male customers. This is because men |
| exposure to sun's rays can. Vitamin D is a major | | | | use the tanning beds more often than women. |
| substance needed to strengthen the bones and to | | | | The recent market study also showed that older |
| prevent diseases. Thus, it can be said that the | | | | people are now using tanning beds. That is 70% of all |
| responsible use of tanning beds can contribute to the | | | | surveyed tanning bed users are aged older than 25. |
| overall health of a person. | | | | And in New York, men over the age of 40 are |
| With these studies, the profile of tanning bed users | | | | beginning to use tanning beds. There are even senior |
| begins to change dramatically. Instead of being purely | | | | citizens who now enter tanning salons. |
| composed of young women, the profile of tanning | | | | As the health benefits of using tanning beds become |
| bed users now has men and older adults. And this | | | | more popular, more men and more older adults are |
| was shown in the study conducted by a group of | | | | going to utilize this indoor tanning technology. These |
| researchers led by Dr. Michael Strepp. The results of | | | | new wave of users are responsible and |
| this 2004 study were compared to the results of the | | | | health-conscious people intent on using a proven |
| last 1996 survey. | | | | technology. |
| In the 1996 survey, almost all users of tanning beds | | | | |