Tanning Salons in Harrisburg PA

Tanning Salons in Harrisburg PA have seen there share of women. In fact, on any given day it would not be shocking to see a teenage girl, or perhaps a young woman in her 20′s or 30′s at the salon getting that golden brown look. However, these days Tanning Salons in Harrisburg PA, and across America are seeing a new influx of customers: Men. That’s right, guys are lining up to get the golden glow as well from traditional tanning beds to spray on tans. Check out the article below for more information:
Going for the Bronze: Tanning salons draw men, nontraditional clients

By AMY BIOLCHINI
Times Herald
• January 9, 2011

Tanning has taken on a new face in area salons, and it’s manly.

As the fake tanning season shifts into high gear, area salon owners say they are seeing more men in search of a golden glow.

They also are seeing older tanners and people who are tanning for different reasons — from creating a bronze bod to fighting a light disorder and other health maladies.

Linda Reichenbach, owner of Beaches Tanning Salon in Port Huron, sees everybody from business people on their lunch breaks to moms looking for a power nap.

Her oldest client is 74, who likes the warmth of the UV bed.

“I used to think tanning was just for rich, wealthy people,” Reichenbach said.

She also has seen an increase in clients using her tanning beds as light therapy for fibromyalgia and arthritis.

“People are slumped over when they walk in,” Reichenbach said. “When they walk out, they’re totally different.”

Sue Warchol, manager of the Tahiti Club in St. Clair, said her place now is serving mainly middle-aged people after a strong teenage client base several years ago.
Bronze bodies

At Beaches, more than 40% of the clients are men, Reichenbach said, and she gives an equal amount of spray tans to men as she gives to women.

The Tahiti Club also sees more young men tanning in preparation for spring break than women, Warchol said.

“The bulk of our clientele at night is men,” she said. “It’s not strictly just a women thing.”

Warchol has no explanation for the increase in male clients, other than female prompting to get a base tan before a tropical vacation.

Overall, Warchol said her mix of about 4,000 clients is approaching 60% women and 40% men.

Auston Riley, 16, of Port Huron, said even though none of his friends tan regularly, he likes to use a UV bed three times a week.

Auston, a wrestler at Port Huron High School, said he started tanning several months ago because he thinks he looks better.

Auston and his 15-year-old sister, Alison Riley, tan at Beaches.

Mom Samantha Riley works there. As long as Auston and Alison only tan for 20-minute increments three times a week, Samantha Riley said she isn’t concerned about possible risks associated with exposure to UV rays.
(2 of 2)

The teens also shrug off any health risks.

Health warnings

Although no law bars minors from tanning in Michigan, the American Cancer Society says the use of indoor tanning beds should be restricted among those younger than 18.

“Young women are the heaviest users and are at the greatest risk of causing harm to themselves,” said Jessica Schweihofer, the society’s St. Clair County community representative.

The Skin Cancer Foundation, in a new study in the Archives of Dermatology, found one third of women ages 18 to 24 are tanning indoors. The same study also found 25% of the women surveyed were not aware avoiding tanning beds can help prevent skin cancer.

More than 2 million skin cancers are diagnosed each year in the United States, Schweihofer said, which is more than diagnoses of breast, lung, prostate, colon, uterus, ovaries and pancreas cancers combined.

Dr. Samir Alsawah, an oncologist at Huron Medical Center in Port Huron, said he has seen an increase in the number of skin cancer diagnoses.

However, Alsawah credits this to heightened publicity and awareness of the risks of skin cancer.

“We’ve always known exposure to sun and UV rays causes cancer,” he said.

Repeated exposure to UV light, whether through tanning beds or natural sunlight, puts people at the most risk for developing skin cancer, Alsawah said.

“That’s the kind of person I would worry about,” he said.

Many local tanning salon managers, such as Warchol and Reichenbach, believe slowly building a base tan is safer and prevents harmful burns later on.

Warchol said many of her younger clients think that “it’s good to burn,” when they try to get a dark tan too fast from UV beds.

“Everything is within moderation,” she said.
Spray it on

There also is the option of spay tanning and creams.         

The cancer society does not advocate the use of spray tans, but acknowledges spray tans and tanning creams are a healthier alternative than UV rays, Schweihofer said.

“In our opinion, no one should be going to tanning beds,” she said. “We recommend that people avoid the sun, both artificial and natural.”

Warchol said she spray tans an equal number of men and women, but its popularity changes depending on the time of the year.

Spray tans give clients instant color, while using UV beds requires daily maintenance.

“For most people, it’s (spray tanning) a special occasion,” such as the prom, Warchol said.

“People that are allergic to the sun or the UV light — spray tan is the way to go.”