Tan Down Under

Vitamin D Deficiency a big problem

2012-01-18T09:11:00.000-08:00

For years the sun has been considered public enemy number one, causing skin damage, premature aging, skin pigmentations and increasing our risk of skin cancer. But before you head for the shade when the sun is out, consider the fact that those so called nasty UV rays are needed in the production of vitamin D and by blocking out the sun, you are risking a deficiency that could leave you open to all sorts of ailments.

An increasing number of scientific studies are now pointing to vitamin-D deficiency as a factor in a catalogue of illnesses including colds and flu, heart disease, strokes, diabetes, auto-immune disorders, depression, osteoporosis and numerous cancers. It has even been suggested as one possible cause of autism.

At the root of the rate of deficiency is the modern-day habit of avoiding sun exposure. Add to that busy lifestyles such as city-living which mean we actually spend more time indoors than our ancestors did. Because of that you have a population that is not getting enough exposure to uv light to produce the vitamin D their body needs.

Around 50 per cent of Americans are believed to have insufficient levels of vitamin D - and living in sunny climates doesn't necessary make you less prone to deficiencies. Studies in Australia have noted similar deficiencies, especially among the darker skinned and the elderly, while a recent study by the University of Hong Kong revealed more than 60 per cent of Hong Kong people were insufficient in vitamin D.

Professor Annie Kung Wai-chee, who led the study, said part of the problem was the common misconception that people living in sunny climates get all the sun and therefore the vitamin D they need without trying.

In addition, dark-skinned people are more at risk because the melanin that colours the skin works like a sun-block preventing the UVB rays being synthesized into vitamin D.

The truth is vitamin D is not a vitamin but a type of hormone that plays an important role in the control of calcium. It has long been known to encourage healthy bones, reduce inflammation, and prevent the bone disease rickets in children and osteoporosis later in life.

Since time began, humans have gotten most of their vitamin D from the sun. Just 15-20 minutes in bright sunshine produces 10,000 to 20,000 IU (international units) of vitamin D - some 50 times the amount you can get in many Vitamin D supplements.

Remember that 20 minutes in the tanning unit of your choice is equal to two hours in the sun.

Exposure to UVB light helps Vitamin D levels

2012-01-13T19:28:00.000-08:00

Are you tired of hearing all the negative comments about tanning? Would you like to know the truth not slanted by this faction or that or by this advertiser or that but some real facts from which you can learn.

In order to help you to understand I am constantly reading and studying about such things as Vitamin D and the pros and cons of having low levels of vitamin d and how UV light plays into your bodies levels of vitamin D.

This week I read a study being published in the January 2012 edition of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, that study found that obese children with lower levels of vitamin d had higher degrees of insulin resistance, researchers said.

Though they stopped short of concluding that vitamin D dieficiency causes abnormal glucose metabolism researchers from the University of Texas said their study suggests that low viatmin D levels may play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes.

Meanwhile, a study published last month out of the University of Missouri-Columbia found that obese teenagers need significantly more vitamin D than their leaner courterparts - seven times more than the current daily recommended intake of 600 Internationl Units.

That's because obese adolescents absorb vitamin D in their fat stores and are about half as efficient as their leaner counterparts at metabolizing their benefits, researchers said.

Vitamin D is a key nutrient for everyone and there are three ways to obtain it: from the UV light from the sun or tanning bed, food or supplements. Here's what you need to know about each source.

Sunlight is an excellent source of vitamin D. It is free and abundant. The ultraviolet B (UVB) rays from the sun convert a precursor into vitamin D, which becomes 25-hydroxyvitamin D in the liver and is then activated to 1, 25-hydroxyvitamin D in the kidneys. A person sitting outside in a bathing suit or by being exposed to UVB rays from a tanning unit gets more vitamin D in 20 minutes than from drinking 200 glasses of milk. In fact, many experts suggest getting even 10 minutes of unprotected UVB exposure on the arms and face or arms and legs, three times weekly helps the bodies levels of Vitamin D. But getting vitamin D from the sun isn't that simple. UVB rays vary greatly depending on latitude, cloud cover, time of year and time of day. Above 42 degrees north latitude, the sun’s rays do not provide sufficient D from November through February, for example. Remember thought that Tanning Units control the length of exposure time and they do not have clouds drifting by to change intesity of the UVB Rays.

Vitamin D3 supplementation is an effective alternative to UV exposure, provided adequate doses are taken. Much individual variation exists in response to supplemental vitamin D. The amount needed to raise and or maintain blood serum levels for one person may not be enough for another. This can be due to various factors such as age, weight, absorption, overall health and amount of sun exposure.

Vitamn D deficiency is a worldwide epidemic, with recent estimates indicating greater than 50% of the global population is at risk.

Looking Back Over 2011

2011-12-28T18:28:00.000-08:00

Well we are close to the end of 2011 and I wanted to take just a minute to look back over what has happened this year at the salon just in case you had not noticed.

We remodeled a nice section of the salon and added four very talented Hair Stylists to serve you, our customers. After all nobody wants to trust their hair styling and color to just anyone and we are well aware of that so in order for us to be sure you will be happy we found some of the very best.

OK I know that each of you probably has someone that takes care of your hair now and I can just imagine you sitting their saying, not a chance I am going to change. Oh I get that but sometimes change is good, sometimes making a change from one stylist to another can give you a whole new outlook on life. A new you if you will.

Well just remember we have top notch stylists that are waiting to serve you. Even if you do not want to make a change stop by and meet them, ask them what they think they could do for your style. You will be pleasantly surprised I am very sure.

In addition to remodeling and adding great talent in our hair salon we have added a lot of hair products and in case you have not noticed we are pricing everything with you in mind. Well we all know that the economy is difficult right now and that saving money means a lot. Well check out our prices and our growing selection. You will love the prices, the selection and the very friendly no pressure shopping. We care about our customers. Come see for yourself.

We continued with our lotion of the week specials, special sales and of course our low prices. Remember we try to keep tanning affordable for everyone. It is the lamps that make the difference and we change ours more often.

Hope you had a fantastic Christmas and had an opportunity to enjoy the free tanning we presented as a way to thank you for tanning with us.

We are open on New Years Day and are having a special on our year package so if you get a chance stop by and join us.

I want to thank you for your continued business and the opportunity to serve you with the best in Tanning, Hair and Nails. I hope you have a fantastic NEW YEAR.

Happy Tanning

Vitamin D may be answer to avoiding flu

2011-11-09T19:03:00.000-08:00

Recently an online lab site is promotion research connecting ideal vitamin D levels in the blood with lower risk of flu during winter months.

"Flu season is just about upon the U.S., and this means that many people will soon start coming down with infections. However, a vitamin D test may help individuals prepare for the season and understand if they need to do more to boost their immune system," This reported in PrivateMDlabs.coms recent newsletter. "A 2005 study published in the FASEB Journal showed that vitamin D plays a crucial role in the production of certain types of white blood cells that are needed for fighting off infections. A deficiency of the nutrient may leave individuals short on these important molecules."

"That is why vitamin D testing is so important, it can give individuals a sense of how well their immune system is functioning. Low levels of the nutrient may indicate a susceptibility to infections. Higher levels could mean individuals are less likely to come down with a cold or the flu"

Other groups, including the non-profit vitamin D council, promote the sunshine vitamin as a key to reducing the risk of autoimmune diseases, influenza.

Exposure to UV light is known to increase levels of vitamin D the sunshine vitamin.

Beauty, Beauty Products and Tanning at the Original Tan Down Under

2011-10-28T17:57:00.000-07:00

We have a team of great stylists on staff to help you with any of your hair desires. So whatever you have in mind, why not stop by our very convenient location in Gresham behind Starbucks in the Oregon Trail Center and talk over your ideas with one of our excellent and very popular stylists. It is their goal to give you what you desire in a style or color. They will do it your way.

In addition to a team of top notch stylists we have a very nice selection of your favorite hair products at prices that compare to those of some of the national discount chains. Stop by our location, check the ever growing selection and compare some prices. You will be glad you did.

In addition to a great selection of brands like Hempz, Alfaparf, Paul Mitchell, Alterna, Redken, China Glaze Nail Even more they have a large selection of Professional Hair Dyers, Flat Irons and the latest Styling Irons from such manufacturers as Hot Tools, Ed Hardy and others.

Of course don't forget about our Tanning and our UV Free Spray Tan Booth. We pride ourselves in keeping everything clean and ready to go. We are big enough to serve you with or without an appointment.

Be sure you go to our web site at www.tandownunder and register for an email of our specials and information about the tanning industry. We do not share our email addresses so your information will be for

our use only.

So if you need Beauty Products, a Haircut or style, spray tan, or tan. Maybe you need tanning products or moisturizers or maybe a gift card, all are available at the Tanning and Beauty salon that has been serving you for 20 years.

New additions to the TAN DOWN UNDER Team

2011-09-27T16:43:00.000-07:00

Two well known Hair Stylists in the Gresham have joined the Tan Down Under team and they will be
doing hair in our newly redecorated Hair Salon located inside of the salon.

JoAnn Rees and Dawn Dammann will be adding a new level of service to Tan Down Under. Both of these
stylists have many years of experience which they will be bringing with them. They offer a full range of
Hair Services.

If you have any questions feel free to call and talk to either of them directly or to schedule an appointment: For JoAnn it is 503-307-1075 and for Dawn it is 971-404-4063.

Remember Tan Down Under is open 7 days a week at 2231 NE Burnside in Gresham. If you want to schedule a tanning session call us at 503-465-0830.

See you soon and Happy Tanning

Tanning Facts and information

2011-09-13T19:24:00.000-07:00

We get asked about Tanning and about the negative press that seems to saturate the media at different times and what is true and what is not. Because we are in the tanning industry we try to do our homework and pass on information to our tanners to keep them better informed.

Something that was published a few months ago in Island Sun Times cited a few important facts that I would like to share with you:

Fact #1: If regular sun exposure could prevent cancer, why do we always hear only the opposite?

Evidence: The almighty dollar. Fear of the sun, scaring people about wrinkles and skin cancer, is a multi-billion-dollar industry led by huge special interests groups who not only conduct most of the research on this topic but also promote it. Lobbyists for pharmaceutical firms that sell billions of dollars of sunscreens and anti-sun cosmetics have teamed with the dermatology industry to promote a misinformed campaign of sun abstinence. Conversely, there is no major industry except the indoor tanning industry that could make money by promoting the positive effects of sunshine. And the indoor tanning industry consists of smaller companies that do not match the marketing saturation of the multi-billion dollar "sun-scare coalition." The idea that people need to control their sun exposure is valid, but sun-scare lobbyists have taken that message too far.

Fact #2: Indoor tanning is helping to reduce the incidence of sunburn.

Evidence: It's true. One industry study has shown that indoor tanners, are 81 percent less likely to sunburn indoors or outside than non-tanners. That's because tanning salons are playing a lead role in educating people that moderate tanning is okay and sunburn should be avoided. The impractical message of sun abstinence promoted by the "sun-scare coalition" is totally ineffective, people are not going to hide from sunshine. Indeed, the American Academy of Dermatology reported in 1997 that sunburn incidence has increased nine percent in the past 10 years, despite all-out efforts of sun-scare industries to warn people about the dangers of overexposure. In that same time period, sunburn incidence among indoor tanners has declined. It is the non-tanners who are doing most of the burning. Given that reality, teaching people who can tan the principles of smart tanning is most practical.

Fact #3: Sun exposure could actually help prevent cancer.

Evidence: It's true. Studies indicating that this relationship exists need to be considered. Many different researchers have shown that regular moderate sun exposure may play a role in preventing several kinds of cancers, including colon and breast cancers, which claim hundreds of thousands of lives annually. Several studies have shown that Vitamin D, whose only reliable source for humans comes from sunshine, may play a role in retarding or arresting pre-cancerous cells in the body from reproducing. Indeed, we have known for decades that overall cancer rates are significantly higher in sun-deprived parts of the world.

A twenty minute tanning session makes you feel better and does help increase energy levels. So why not give yourself a twenty minute vacation in you busy day and come tanning.

Exciting times at the Original Tan Down Under

2011-08-06T11:57:00.000-07:00

If you are a regular client of Tan Down Under you have noticed that we are changing our Hair Styling area and that something exciting is happening. Well as most of you know we have offered hair services for a long time but even with that we felt it was time for a change, and are right in the middle of changing our nice little hair styling area of the salon to a more upscale, spacious feel new look, one that all of you can be proud of. In addition we are adding more stylists, more services and of course more products.

Over the years we have always had a lot of hair products in the salon for you to purchase and as soon as our remodeling is complete you will see a lot more. We removed some to make room for remodeling but within a week or so the new floor will be in and you will see our selection of hair products growing. Our goal is to be able to offer you a great selection. In the past we featured a lot of Nexxus and of course they changed their marketing strategy so we changed to, we always kept a good selection of Paul Mitchell products including their hair tools. As for now though we plan on bringing in the products you want from the suppliers that will work best with us. So watch and you will see what we are building, you will see it soon and I am sure you will love the selection of the very best hair and nail products available.

Something I am most excited about and it is a little soon to release names but I have agreements with several of the Gresham areas finest stylists, all of them outstanding, well known with a true following of long time customers which means to you that they are top notch and someone that you will feel comfortable with doing your hair or nails.

Well enough for now but within a couple of weeks the salon will be done and rolling strong once again, keep watching.

Dale

Study shows UV Vitamin D Reduces Risk of Cancer

2011-07-26T11:51:00.000-07:00

Researchers from the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research (Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale[INSRM]) in Paris, obtained information during a study of 70,000 women that sufficient UVB exposure was the key element in boosting vitamin D prodution and that diet or nutritional supplements only play a supporting role.

The scientists state that regular sun exposure and a vitamin D-rich diet reduce the risk of developing breast cancer by around 32 to 43 percent. They also surmise that the deciding factor in prevention is exposure to adequate UVB rays. Admittedly, food that is rich in vitamin D, such as fish, dairy products, eggs and certain types of oils or food supplements, can boost the effects of the sun, but used alone, researchers believe they have little effect on the occurrence or progression of the disease.

According to the Sunlight Research Forum, in this study, scientists observed approximately 70,000 women during a period of 10 years. In this time, 2,871 cases of breast cancer were diagnosed. According to the study, women who live in sunny regions such as Provence and who eat a vitamin D-rich diet have a far lower risk of developing breast cancer than women who have less sun exposure, who live in cloudier areas and who ingest less vitamin D through their food or food supplements.

The conclusion of the research group is: “A high dose of vitamin D via exposure to sunlight and nutrition is necessary in order to obtain a sufficient protective effect against breast cancer. However, this value is very difficult for women to achieve in northern countries as the sunlight in these regions is not strong enough to ensure a sufficient supply of vitamin D.” Furthermore, the scientists explain, following the time of menopause, it is far more difficult to achieve the protective effect from the combination of sun and a vitamin-D rich diet.

Remember that tanning for twenty minutes ina taning bed is equal to 2 hours in the sun. Take time to go tanning, it works.

Clinical Study on Vitamin D Reducing Breast Cancer

2011-06-29T18:54:00.000-07:00

A Georgetown University clinical study has added to the already impressive number of studies showing that higher vitamin D blood levels reduce a woman's risk of breast cancer by as much as 85 percent, and the new study is getting media attention.

"The results of the experiment , conducted at the Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington and released this week at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, bolster the striking finding from the field of human epidemiology that women with low levels of vitamin D tend to have a higher risk of breast cancer, while those with more of the sunshine vitamin get less of the cancer," The Toronto Globe and Mail's Martin Mittelstaedt reported recently. "The new study found that mice with mammary cancers sensitive to estrogen, the most common type in women, had a twofold reduction in tumour incidence and a fourfold reduction the growth of their cancers if given vitamin D."

More than a dozen case-control studies have already suggested that low vitamin D levels are strongly connected with higher breast cancer risk. Lab studies have shown how the active form of vitamin D can inhibit the growth and spread of cancer cells. But this clinical study adds further weight to the argument.

According to the Globe and Mail, "Two major human trials are currently underway in the US. One at Creighton University in Omaha, the other a combined effort at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston - using higher doses of vitamin D. The trials may be able to shed more light on its use as a possible cancer treatment and appropriate doses, although it is expected to be years before either reports results."

New Study Shows Less Cancer with More Sun

2011-06-17T12:35:00.000-07:00

Women who used sunbeds more than once a month for several decades had a 37 percent lower risk of contracting breast cancer, according to a new prospective study of nearly 50,000 Swedish women followed for 15 years. A strong addition to data suggesting that the benefits of regular UV exposure from any source outweigh the manageable risks of overexposure.

Researchers at the University of Oxford in England, the University of Oslo in Norway, The Karolinska Institute in Sweden and the Harvard School of Public Health in the United States published the study online recently in the peer reviewed journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention. The study shows that women who spent more than one week per year on sunbathing vacations between ages 10-29 had a 30 percent lower overall risk of any internal cancer and 44 percent fewer breast cancers compared to non-tanning women.

"UV exposure earlier in life was related to reduced overall and breast cancer risk," the authors reported. "Further research is needed to define the amount of solar or artificial UV exposure that many, or may not, be beneficial for cancer prevention."

While the data did not suggest that cumulative UV exposure was protective, the authors believe that the vitamin D pathway inherent with UV exposure is the likely mechanism responsible for cancer risk reduction for those who sought sunlight or sunbeds.

Beach Princess is the new lotion of the week

2011-05-19T16:19:00.000-07:00

As you know, the Original Tan Down Under has been giving you a new Lotion of the Week nearly every week and this week is no exception.

This week Brown Sugar Beach Princess was chosen to be our lotion of the week and to give you a great opportunity to own this excellent Tanning Lotion we reduced the price to just $25.00 for the week.

Other things are happing as well. If you read the monthly flyer I am sure you saw the UV Free Spray Booth special we are offering that is a sweet deal and from that double session you will see phenominal color, so give that a try.

In addition this weekend we have another big three day special on our very popular 11 Tans for $19.99 again that is another great offer.

Remember take time for yourself and go tanning. It is like a 20 minute vacation in your busy day.

Happy Tanning

Black Sugar is the Lotion of the Week

2011-05-09T17:01:00.000-07:00

This is the new lotion of the week at Tan Down Under and it is a very nice one. Brown Sugar a very rich line of tanning products from Tan Inc. developed and released Black Sugar for the 2011 Tanning Season. This is a very nice 35 bronzer tanning lotion.

Black Sugar has an excellent fragrance and silky smooth feel when applying prior to tanning. The fragrance is a very nice Pomegranate Mango with Starfruit and Water Lilly.

Remember the name Black Sugar, it is our Lotion of the Week with a very low special price of just $20.

If you want good results from your tanning session this is a lotion that could help you.

Be sure to take time for yourself. Going tanning can make you feel like a new person.

Happy Tanning

New Lotion From Skincare by Hoss

2011-04-27T18:13:00.000-07:00

This is a recent Press release from HOSS SAUCE regading SONS OF OUTLAW.

It is new and it is exciting! We have had many enquiries for a long time asking when we were going to come out with a lotion with more tingle than any we have produced before. We had been promising a new state of the art tingle lotion like nothing else on the market. We have spent well over a year in research and development putting together what we wanted to bring to you.

It has happened, we were finally satisfied that we had was what you were looking for and wanted, it was a new generation of tingle lotion like we had promised to come out with for a long time, SONS OF OUTLAW is here it has been released and comments have been excellent with reviews touting the great results that are being seen after first use. We believe this could easily become our most popular Tingle Tanning Lotion of all time.

SONS OF OUTLAW is the name and results are the game. Boy that sounds good doesn’t it? Well it is true as we went through the testing process developing this fantastic lotion we watched individuals go from a fair tan to dark tan in one use, it is that good. Then repeated use found that dark tan getting darker and richer looking with each useage.

This is more than just a lotion with a little tingle it is a very high quality skincare product that happens to be a tanning lotion. A great deal of time was spent in developing this dynamic lotion. Special attention went into making this product one that will not only leave your skin feeling great and looking younger and more vibrant.

We formulated this lotion with great care, it has a blend of anti-oxidants to help diminish free radical damage, vitamins and minerals add more to the quest of having soft smooth and properly hydrated skin. Our special blend of tingle and aloe help stimulate the collagen allowing for to more healthy skin which can lead to younger looking more vibrant skin.

We have Sons Of Outlaw as our lotion of the week this week in the store. It is a strong tingle product that will get results fast. You will love the results and fragrance.

Rickets...Vitamin D Deficiency

2011-04-16T09:54:00.000-07:00

A Colorado woman whos infant daughter's severe vitamin D deficiency led to a shattered spine and multiple other fractures had her daughter taken away from her by authorities who mistook the childs injuries as child abuse reports the Vitamin D Council.

The woman, 20 year old Michelle Gonzalez, went through several misdiagnosis of her daughter's lack of movement before a doctor finally took an x-ray. "After the x-ray though, my whole life flipped completely upside down. My husband and I were informed that my daughter had multiple fractures throughout her body and that her spine was also fractured which was the cause of her loss of movement in her arms. I just about fained when they told me this." Gonzalez wrote in a letter to to the Vitamin D Council. "They then informed me that they had to report it to child protection, which I fully understood and in my heart I knew they would figure out that this was not abuse but something more. But I was wrong."

"After being at the hospital for almost two weeks, the police and a couple social workeres came to tell us that we had to leave the hospital immediately and that if we came back or even called we would be arrested. That was July 28th, the day she turned three months and the last time I ever saw my daughter."

The Vitamin D Council is fighting to get authorities to realize that vitamin D deficiency-caused rickets cases are not child abuse - claiming that Gonzalez is not alone and that many other cases of child hood fractures are being misdiagnosed.

You might wonder why I would post this information on a tanning site but it is quite simple. Everyone needs ample amounts of vitamin D. Most people are deficient in Vitamin D and especially in this area of the country. Exposure to UV B light helps you body produce the much needed vitamin d it needs to maintain good health. As you know it this climate there is not enough sunlight exposure to solve deficiency and when most go out in the sun the excessive use of sunscreen that blocks exposure to suns rays happens.

20 minutes in a tanning bed is equal to two hours in the sun thus giving you some of the much needed vitamin d.

Try a UV Free Spray Tan Today

2011-04-12T18:51:00.000-07:00

UV Free Spray tanning is a great way for anyone to get a very nice looking tan the very day that they need it. As a matter of fact a tan from our spray tan unit will begin devoping at the time of the application and should be fully developed in approximately four hours. Think how nice that can be if you are desiring a tan for a wedding, for a party, for a convention for a date.

Yes, a fast tan that looks real, no orange look. We pride ourselves in the quality of spray tan we deliver. We use the best equipment and the solution that is applied is by far the very best in the industry. Have you thought about trying a spray tan?

It is simple and very quick. When you arrive at our salon you check in and then if you are new to the process you will view a short dvd that will explain everything to you and how to get the most out of your session.

One thing I always like to make everyone aware of and that is to not apply lotion to yourself before coming to use the spray as it tends to keep the UV Spray from reaching your skin properly.

People ask if they can use a tanning bed either before or after the spray session. Of course you can but if it is right before do not use a lotion.

Now our spray unit takes roughly a minute to complete the process, that is after you are in the unit and ready. The spray is in the form of a fog, then you are gently air dried and and the process is complete. The whole process is very nice and the results are phenominal so why not come on by and try a UV Free spray tan real soon. The cost for a session is just $19.95.

Tanning Season is in Full Swing

2011-03-30T18:57:00.000-07:00

It is true, Tanning Season is in full swing. We have hundereds of our Tanners coming back to tan. It is interesting how the thought of spring, spring break, summer, vacations and sunshine seem to bring tanners out in droves. We love it and it is great to see our many friends again. Of course there are the tanners that we refer to as professional tanners that do tan pretty much year round however when you add the seasonal tanners it just is great to see them all again. We just printed our April specials flyer which will be available in the salon in the next day or so and has already been emailed to the tanners who receive our weekly emails. Remember when you are tanning it is important that you use a quality lotion to get the best results, we have many to choose from at the salon and any of our trained Tanning Consultants can help you pick out the one that will help you develop the tan you want as fast as possible. Remember to sign up for email specials and news about tanning at www.tandownunder.com. Till next time, Happy Tanning

More about negative publicity about Tanning

2011-02-28T16:39:00.001-08:00

Have you noticed that there always seems to be a lot of negative publicity about tanning and mostly indoor tanning? Well it is really easier to understand if you understood what I lovingly
call the politics of it.

The different entities have a problem trying to regulate the sun but a different story for the indoor tanning industry, so we get to hear negatives that do not address all of the positive advantages to UV exposure.

The lotion companies that sell SPF are huge compared to our Tanning Industry. With that in mind rest assured they focus on advertising dollars on the big name magazines and papers and when they do so they are also in a position to demand press releases touting only tan with SPF be printed. Those magazines, newspapers and some of the visual media are glad to jump through hoops for millions in revenue. That gives you half truths and false information, sad but true.

In addition think about something else and where other negative publicity tends to come from and that would be the cosmetic dermatolgy group. Any scare tactics or press releases will drive alot of dollars (oops customers) to their offices. OH yes and for those of you who dont know they do what they call phototherapy sessions, which utilizes indoor tanning equipment in the dermatolgists office. At an average cost of $100 per session.

Back in 1993 873,000 such phototherapy sessions were delivered in dermatology offices in the US by 1998 as the popularity of the indoor tanning industry grew those phototherapy sessions in the dermatology offices fell off by 94%. One of the main uses for these phototherapy sessions was to treat psoriasis.

Now if you put all that into perspective if tanning salons were closed, the cosmetic dermatology industry could gain up to $5 billion in phototherapy sessions which would be charged to health insurance companies and the Medicare system.

When I mentioned politics I meant it. Think about the tan tax. Nobody likes it but we have to collect it. That started out to be tax against the clinics selling botox and some of the cosmetic surgery procedures. I am reasonably sure that originally it was going to be 3% tax to them which would have brought in a lot more money than the 10% tax they levied on Tanning Salons and Tanning bed use. That cosmetic surgery group or groups had the money to convince politicians to not charge them but instead to tax the Tanning Industry under the Obamacare plan.

So when you hear or see negative publicity about Tanning, Tanning in Tanning Beds etc. do some research you will be amazed at the documentation you will find.

Remember it is not good to burn so listen to the tanning consultants and adjust your time as to keep from burning. When you are outside as the weather gets nicer or you travel, use an spf. Also think about the fact that your skin tanning is your bodies natural way to keep you from bruning. Use good skin care products to keep your skin hydrated properly, quality tanning products and one of our excellent moisturizers with tan extending capabilites will help you.

Happy Tanning

Hair Stylist Added to Tan Down Under Team

2011-02-24T17:57:00.001-08:00

Maybe it does not sound like a big deal but the fact that we have added a Hair Stylist to our Tan Down Under Team is really big.

We wanted to give our Tanners more to simplify their lives and by having a hair stylist on staff and her keeping regular hours in the salon will certainly allow many of our tanners to streamline their schedules. Now it is simple to book an appointment to go tanning and book a hair appointment near the same time as well.

Our new stylist, Debbie Steward comes to us with a lot of great experience in her chosen field. She does cuts, color, highlights and perms just to mention a few. Even if you do not need any work done, next time you are in why not say hello and get to know her.

Reseach Shows Increased UV Light Exposure and Male Libido

2011-02-15T10:02:00.000-08:00

Hello,
As you know we have a real interest in keeping our Tanners informed with much of the information available both about tanning and about vitamin D because it is so relative to Tanning.

According to Naturalnews.com If you needed any more reasons to pursue a UV vitamin D boost, news out of Austria may do the trick. Research that appeared in Clinical Endocrinology indicates a connection between increased UV light exposure and male libido.

Based on the research, a representative from the Sunlight Research Forum suggests that men with proper vitamin D levels tested with favorable amounts of testosterone. Several thousand men participated in the study, which noted correlations between fluctuating vitamin D and testosterone levels through a designated time period. When vitamin D was elevated, so was testosterone – as well as the inverse relationship.

The source article mentions some researchers’ recommendations for daily UV light exposure in order for the body to help produce vitamin D; the necessary time varies based on skin tone. It’s noted that the body can complete the vitamin D stimulation process long before any adverse result such as a sunburn would occur.

According to Cancer Research UK’s Jessica Harris, “Enjoying the sun safely while taking care not to burn should help people strike a balance between making enough vitamin D and avoiding a higher risk of skin cancer.”

Also mentioned are: the reported widespread health benefits of vitamin D, the increase in vitamin D deficiency worldwide, and the problems sunscreen causes in prohibiting vitamin D production.

Thank you and Happy Tanning

How Much Vitamin D Do You Need?

2011-02-03T17:30:00.000-08:00

The question of how much is enough Vitamin D is huge.

Currently, there’s scientific debate about how much vitamin D people need each day. The Institute of Medicine, in a long-awaited report released on November 30, 2010 recommends tripling the daily vitamin D intake for children and adults in the U.S. and Canada, to 600 IU per day. The report also recognized the safety of vitamin D by increasing the upper limit from 2,000 to 4,000 IU per day, and acknowledged that even at 4,000 IU per day, there was no good evidence of harm. The new guidelines, however, are overly conservative about the recommended intake, and they do not give enough weight to some of the latest science on vitamin D and health. For bone health and chronic disease prevention, many people are likely to need more vitamin D than even these new government guidelines recommend.

The Institute of Medicine's new recommended daily intake of vitamin D is 600 IU for people ages 1 to 70, and 800 IU after age 70. Yet this recommendation is overly conservative, since strong evidence shows optimal intakes are higher, at least 1,000–2,000 IU for those over age 2.

The new guidelines from the IOM (Institute of Medicine) note that in children over the age of 9 and in adults, taking up to 4,000 IU per day as a supplement is safe. For children ages 4 to 8, up to 3,000 IU per day is considered safe, and for children ages 1 to 3, 2,500 IU; in older infants (6 to 12 months), up to 1,500 IU per day is considered safe, and in young infants (0 to 6 months), up to 1,000 IU.

Most people find that taking supplements is their easiest way to get Vitamin D. However studies show that most multivitamins (400 IU) is to low. However some of the maufacturers have started adding 800 or 1,000 IU of vitamin D to the mulitvitamins now.

Getting more exposure to UVB rays of light, the rays that trigger the skin to produce vitamin D are of course stronger near the equator and weaker at higher latitudes. So in the fall and winter, people who live at higher latitudes can't make much if any vitamin D from the sun.

That means that in order to get enough UVB exposure it would likely be done indoors in a tanning unit. Remember 20 minutes in a tanning unit is equal to 2 hours in the sun.

Vitamin D is needed

2011-02-03T16:59:00.000-08:00

I have been doing a fair amount of research on the subject of Vitamin D so that I can help you be better informed as tanners. This ongoing quest for knowledge of the subject has led me to many interesting studies.

"My guesstimation is that $4 trillion of health costs could be averted over a decade if adequate food fortification and/or supplemntation programs were to be implemented, which would save Americans $1,300 per person per year or $3,900 per family of three annually. These savings won't be achieved now that the Food and Nutrition Board has only taken baby steps to remedy a widespread deficiency in sun-deprived population." This a quote form Dr. Bill Sardi, vitamin D and sunshine advocate, from a statement to the Vitamin D Council.

Simply put so much of our country, especially in climates like this one is deficient in Vitamin D. Getting Vitamin D to off set your bodies deficiency can be done in various ways. The first and what is known to be the best way is UV exposure, then there are supplements and of course eating more Vitamin D rich foods such as Salmon.

As tanners you are tanning in UV light which is a copy of the natural sun rays that are needed to develope the need vitamin D. Tanning for 20 minutes in a tanning bed is equal to two hours in the sun.

Having A Tan Determined To Be Sexier

2011-01-26T16:48:00.000-08:00

According to a study by Emory University in Atlanta, GA it was determined that tanned skin makes a person more attractive. Their study was conducted using the hotornot.com web site.

Hotornot.com is a web site that allows users to rate the attractiveness of people who have posted their photos on that site.

Researchers used 45 women, aged 21 to 35. Each woman had a digital photo taken of them and placed on hotornot. After at least 100 ratings, the photo was touched up using Photoshop to make the woman look tanner and then the photo was placed back on the site so it could be rated again.

When the study concluded with 30 of the 45 individuals improving their attractiveness score after their photo had been changed. 12 of the 30 women had improved their attractiveness rating by a significant amount. Only 2 out of the 15 women, who scored lower with the tanned photo had a significant rating decrease. This means that 27 percent of people experienced a significant ratings boost with tanned skin, while only 4 percent saw substantial ratings drop.

Why is tanned skin almost always more appealing? Very likely it is because tanned skin appears to be a healthier and more vibrant helping define sex appeal.

So this is more proof that being tan gets more attention and is more appealing.

Happy New Year 2011

2010-12-31T17:18:00.000-08:00

Want to thank all of our Tanners for their business
and wish everyone a Very Happy New Year!

Christmas was good at the Original Tan Down Under

2010-12-29T19:00:00.000-08:00

Koala Tree Gifts is now part of Tan Down Under!

Prior to Christmas we created what we are calling Koala Tree Gifts. It is a very nice selection of
Gift Items which include Gift Bags and Baskets for Tanners, wall clocks, t-shirts, tank tops, halter tops, sweatshirts, candles, NFL and NASCAR items and alot more. The selection is growing weekly and has been receiving some really good comments from our customers.

Our belief is that if we offer other items that you may want, you may find that it is a bit of a one stop shopping center, helping you with time constraints that we all deal with on a daily basis.

Next time you come into the salon take a minute and look at what Koala Tree Gifts has to offer.

We are looking for a Hair Stylist, Nail Tech and are considering adding massage to our menu.
If you know a stylist that you think would be interested in working at Tan Down Under have them contact our manager at the store, Michelle or have them call and leave a message on our corporate phone at 503-907-1779.

In addition Tanning Season kicks off on the first of January so now is the time to get a package if you do not already have one and get ready for those 20 minute vacations in your busy day.

If you have not signed up to receive our email with specials go to our web site at www.tandownunder.com. You will recieve some fantastic bargains and advanced notice of our sales.

Thanks and Happy Tanning

NEW GIFT SECTION OPEN

2010-12-10T15:44:00.001-08:00

The beginning of the Holiday Season prompted us to make use of some of the lobby space in our salon. What we chose to do was to develop our new Koala Tree Gift section.

We have a very nice assortment of the latest Professional Hot Tools Hair Dryers and Flat Irons, we have a selection of Ed Hardy professional hair tools as well. Many people are not certain to the difference between professional hair tools and those that are found in general merchandise stores, so let me give you a couple of the many differences, a Stylist (professional) will likely use a hair dryer or styling tool all day every day of their work week. For that reason the professional tool must last to that kind of use. The average home use is maybe 15 minutes a day.

When a professional unit is manufactured it has to be created with a motor that will last for a long time the average is on the upside of 1000 hours. Retail versions maybe a 100 hours. Drying time is a big difference in the different ones as well, faster drying means more money the stylist can make, for home use faster drying would cut down the amount of time it takes you to get ready for work or play. Well then there is how it feels to the stylist, lightweight is important for constant use. Ergonomics come into play as well. If you have never used a profession tool for hair styling you are in for a real treat when you get one of these for yourself.

We have a showcase full of Gift Bags and Baskets perfect for Christmas Gift Giving. These are Gifts that a Tanner or a non-Tanner will certainly enjoy. We have them packaged ready to give.

Well stop buy when you get a chance and look around you will be suprised at all that is there and then watch as we add more.

Bad weather encourages Tanning

2010-10-30T10:36:00.000-07:00

We have found as the weather changes and the temperature drops the number of tanners increases here at the salon. Of course for those of you who have lived in the Northwest you
accept that as the norm, as I do.

Well, in other parts of the country like Las Vegas, Phoenix and El Paso the norm is quite different when it comes to indoor tanning. In the hotter and more sunny regions of the country Tanners tend to want to tan indoors because of the extreme heat from the sun outside.

You get areas such as Miami where the owners of tanning salons in that region get most of their business from the tourist. When I think about that it makes little or no sense to me. When you go to an area of the country with beautiful beaches and alot of sun, why would you tan inside. Well our of curiousity I have asked that question of various salon owner and almost all answered with the fact that people come to that area of the country planning on getting a tan but find so much to do they do not get the time to lay out on the beach and do not want go home looking pale so they tan inside before leaving for home.

But that is there and this is here where we need UV Light for seasonal depression, to protect against sunburn befere you leave on a vacation and for the many ways that UV light really does help us with health related items, many of which you will find on our web site.

For me a real big factor in tanning is the fact that when I go to a tanning booth and proceed to tan it means I am going to get 20 minutes of peace and quiet. That is my 20 minute vacation in a busy day. Try it you will be glad you did.

Happy Tanning,
Dale

Weather Turning Cool! Tanning Beds Help!

2010-10-24T12:56:00.000-07:00

Although I should not be, I am amazed at how many Tanners come back to tanning as soon as the weather turns cool much like it is now. I guess it is understandable in as much as going through the summer you enjoy warmer weather and many chances to go out side and spend time in the sun. Once the temperature cools down and it becomes to cold to go outside and do many of the activities you enjoy. The thought of losing the tan you developed through the summer, the fact that now no bright sunlight to help get rid of some of the seasonal depression that can rear its ugly head this time of the year has shown up it is understandable for Tanners to go back inside to their favorite tanning bed.

We have been doing a lot of changing since we took the salon back from Debbie Johnson. Our biggest goal is to regain lost tanners and of course get the salon back on track to it will stop losing money and once again become a business that can pay for itself while giving our tanners a positive tanning experience. We have been making repairs, relamping beds and in short bringing the salon back up to our standards for tanning excellence.

This week we have introduced another lotion of the week which I am sure you will enjoy and we have put in on sale at a special introductory price. Check it out when you are in the salon.
We have just emailed our latest Calendar of events and specials.

Remember we want you to enjoy a positive tanning experience each and every time you come to our salon. Oh yes we have gift cards ready for the holidays.

Thank you and Happy Tanning.

Tanners find their way back

2010-10-12T16:25:00.000-07:00

As most everyone was aware this Tan Down Under was sold about a year and half ago but that sale did not work out. Now, we are back in charge and this salon is called the Original Tan Down Under.

We have talked to a lot of tanners since we took over about two months ago, trying to find out how they felt, we talked to tanners who still tan with us and others that had left and tried to find a tanning salon they could be happy with. We asked for comments and complaints and have gotten some of each, with that information we have been able to make changes that will please. One of the biggest complaints was results for the tanning session and that of course is a result of weak lamps, changing lamps is something that a lot of salons tend not to do as often as they should. Just a note that I think most tanners understand and that is that with good lamps the results are fantastic, with weak lamps or pretty much wasted lamps the results are terrible.

One of the sad things we found out was that many of the long time tanners had left to find another salon. When asked what was the problem, replys varied but centered around the fact that the salon was not run as it had in the past. I heard comments about kids running around in the salon during work hours, heard about it not being clean and poorly trained help. Another comment that I have heard frenquently is that the lady that was in charge was not friendly and did not seem to want to be bothered much of the time.

I am now happy to report that we are seeing increasing numbers of tanners and those tanners are bringing their friends back in. We have gotten tanners that tanned with us at some of the locations that we used to own and are now driving a little to find what they are looking for in a tanning salon. We do focus on great customer service and tanning results.

Our hours will probably change and become longer as we near the holiday season but for now we are open Monday through Friday from 8am to 9pm., Saturday from 9am to 9pm and Sunday from 9am to 8pm. In the meantime remember that we offer appointments for anyone who has a schedule that is pressing and we are also glad to serve walk in tanners.

Happy Tanning

The Original Tan Down Under is the place in the Portland area

2010-10-05T10:54:00.000-07:00

We are the Original Tan Down Under and want to welcome you to our store in the Oregon Trail Center on Burnside in Gresham.

We recently got this store back from Debbie Johnson the owner of what was Sandy's Tan Down Under for a little more than a year. But due to unfortunate circumstances Johnson made a decision to close down.

Actually it was August 6th that we regained control of what is now the Original Tan Down Under. We are calling it the Original Tan Down Under because for near 20 years we owned and operated a chain of 5 Tan Down Unders and wanted people to know and be confident in the fact that this store is being operated much like the other ones were.

You will see the shelves have been restocked the salon has been cleaned and will remain that way, lamps have been changed and other changes will be happing on a regular basis.

In the last couple of months we have learned of the likes and dislikes people experienced with the most recent ownership and management. I believe that you will like the changes we have begun to make happen.

Some of you have been in and met our staff of Tanning Consultants. Our store manager, Michelle worked for our chain of salons for more than 8 years. The other manager Christine we have put into place worked for us as a manager for several years some years ago. The rest of the staff, although new is excellent and is being trained properly.

We are going to continue to offer you the best prices possible. Running a salon properly is not inexpensive and making sure that everything runs properly and does what it is supposed has a price tag, but we are going to work at giving you the best tanning sessions at a price that you can afford and do not mind paying.

We find changing our lamps to be very important as that is what really makes a good tanning salon. Many salons around advertised cheap prices and big discounts on everything but these are the very salons who more often than not do not change lamps. Changing lamps in a tanning bed is an expensive process and in order to save money it does get put off. Keep in mind a tanning lamp if it is a premium lamp has an operating life in most cases of about 1000 hours after that time the UV part of that lamp (the tanning ability) is gone and yet that lamp will stay lit up for another 500 to 1000 hours but does nothing more than emit light. So you see having a salon that offers cheap prices but does not change lamps means you are throwing your money away. With us we want you to get results. You get results you will be happy and come back more often and you will help us spread the word.

People have asked if we are affiliated with the other Tan Down Unders in the area. That answer is NO we sold three salons to Jimmy Kashuba about a year ago. Inside of that year Kashuba managed to get the one in Vancouver and the one at 173rd and Halsey shut down for non payment of rent. For now he is operating the one at 117th and NE Halsey but is in no way affiliated with our Gresham location.

Remember we offer you the best tanning, we have more than 20 Tanning units and an Omega UV Free Spray booth waiting for you . We take appointments and walk ins. If you sign up for our email list at our web site we will be sure you get all of the latest specials. http://www.tandownunder.com/.

The office phone number for the Original Tan Down Under is 503-907-1779 and the direct salon number is 503-465-0830. If you have questions please let us know.

Happy Tanning.