Inject-a-tan will challenge the sunbed

[Editor-in-Chief]

Inject-a-tan will challenge the sunbed

Roger Dobson

HERE comes the sun . . . in drug form. Scientists have devised a new compound that could put an end to expensive trips to the tanning salon or risky sunbathing in the back garden.

The drug creates an instant tan but at the same time protects against skin cancer.

Yet there are still downsides: early tests required 30 separate injections and the pilot scheme has left some human guinea pigs feeling sick and faint.

Once this feeling of nausea can be overcome, however, it could become a designer drug for those seeking the permanent tan of Robert Kilroy-Silk without the trouble of lying under sun lamps.

When the scientists injected the drug into volunteers in Sydney, Australia, their skin became significantly darker and the sunburn risk was halved.

A compound in the injection triggers the production of melanin, the brown pigment that gives the skin its colour and which acts as a sunscreen to protect the skin from ultraviolet light, the chief cause of skin cancer.

In Britain more than 100,000 cases of skin cancer are reported each year. About 1,700 Britons die from skin cancer every year, with about 100 of those thought to be the result of sunbeds and tanning lamps. But there is still a massive market for bronzing treatments and last year £28m was spent on self-tanning.

The body increases its production of melanin in response to exposure to the sun which is why people tan, but there needs to be significant exposure to the sun’s rays, or a tanning lamp, before this occurs.

The theory behind the new compound, a hormone, is that it triggers the production of melanin without the need for the skin to be burnt first.

The results of a trial involving 79 people being reported in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology this week show that the compound, injected into the abdomen in three 10-day cycles over three months, is highly effective.

Melanin density in the skin increased significantly in all the men and women who had the injections. The average increase was 41%.

At the end of the 90-day study there was a reduction of more than 50% in sunburn cell injury.

“This study has shown for the first time the potential ability of a synthetic hormone that augments melanin production to provide photoprotection to people who normally burn in direct sunlight,” say the researchers in their report.

“In the face of increased deterioration of the ozone layer, and the increasing incidence of skin cancer, the ability to stimulate the skin’s own ‘protective mechanism’ of tanning may prove extremely important as an additional photo-protective strategy.”

The results of the trials show that injections were associated with four side effects: nausea, facial flushing, fatigue and vomiting. A dozen of those involved in the tests dropped out because of these side effects.

The report says the downsides could be reduced by reformulating the drug as one that could be injected in a way that releases lower doses over a longer period of time.
source

[Tanning Queen]

Tanning is expensive? If it was, wouldnt we all have more money? Heck, I thought tanning was free if you buy a bottle of lotion?

I thought they didnt think a tan protected you against burning, now they say it does. Like how they said that 100 of the 1700 people that die each year is "thought" to be the result of sun exposure. Interesting since they always say that tanning is the reason for skin cancer, rarely do they point to anything else.

Interesting article. Still wouldnt want to stick myself to get a tan. Plus it doesnt say anything about Vit D.

[GSK Resources]

They have been saying a "tanning drug" is a year away for about 15 years now.

When it happens then what will the doctors do???

[frankie]

Will they put this in the drug store in pill form or will everyone have to pay for a doctor visit and lord knows how much for the injections? They want us all on some type of drug. Don`t they call this "drug addicts". So how is this drug being tested over a long period of time? How do they know what the outcome will be for those taking it? Side effects over the years could be a lot worse than tanning. Oh but I thought nothing was that bad??

So let me get this straight. Taking this drug will be better for you than getting in the tanning bed. Says who? A drug is a drug and until long years of testing after taking it no one will be sure. How many will take the chance?

[John]

The drug certainly can't supply you with vitamin D.

I don't think it is anything to worry about..............yet!

[MARVIN]

What the hell is in it that would make you tan.

[Island Cove]

[QUOTE][Yet there are still downsides: early tests required 30 separate injections and the pilot scheme has left some human guinea pigs feeling sick and faint.
/QUOTE]

hmmm, or you can go 3-5 times on an HP and feel great. More and more people I meet lately are looking for drug free alternatives to feeling better. they are looking towards healing foods, going organic and natural path doctors. IF injecting this drug makes you feel sick all the time, it won't get far off the ground. So they say they will lower the dose to reduse the sick feeling so that meen even more injections.

injected into the abdomen in three 10-day cycles over three months, is highly effective.

At the end of the 90-day study

if i read this right, 90 days to get tanned and that will be extended because of feeling sick. so we can assume it will take atleast 90 days to get color, how many clients do you have that need a tan and come in a week before they need it? How many people beside diabetics do you know who will enjoy sticking themselves with a needle for 90 days or more and feel sick the whole time, especialy when they know they can tan much faster in a salon or on a bed and feel good the whole time they do it. I think this is a drug that will totaly flop.

[Derf]

Needles in the gut are just as relaxing as a 15 minute tan. I am sticking myself as we speak.

Editor-in-chief,
Are you a tanning salon owner or do you just surf the net in search of anti tanning propaganda? I, for one, am not interested in hearing yet another reason to not tan. What do you think the collective negative energy from everyone reading your posts will create? And what if we were all thinking about how great our industry is? What a good time it is to be a tanning salon owner and how much opportunity for growth there is. How people are becoming more aware of the chemicals they put on their bodies (sunscreen) and are interested in vitamin D and the healing power of the sun.

I would like to direct my thoughts and energy into the things I want, not the things I do not want. Try it!!

[Editor-in-Chief]

Thanks, christine, I'll file that under "Shoot The Messenger."

I suggest that you stick to reading the tanning trade magazines, where everything is wonderful. The distributors and manufacturers are also more than happy to blow smoke up your butt.

I don't make up the news. I just republish the items that I think might be of interest to the membership. Reading is optional. Most of the news effecting the indoor tanning industry is negative. Deal.

Sometimes, I don't like reality either. However, life goes on without my permission.

Are you saying that you are an innocent bystander in your own life and you have no control over what happens?

[uv2021]

Can you smoke it too?

[engfant]

To even give this any attention is pathetic. It's posted once a year like it's the beginning of something wonderful.

Tanning in a syringe. Yeah and I invented sanitary TNT wipes. Wipe it on your ass after a #2 and it blasts it clean.

So much faster and good for the environment.

[Derf]

Originally Posted by tanworldorder

To even give this any attention is pathetic. It's posted once a year like it's the beginning of something wonderful.

Tanning in a syringe. Yeah and I invented sanitary TNT wipes. Wipe it on your ass after a #2 and it blasts it clean.

So much faster and good for the environment.

Could I get a case?

[Ezliving_Jim]

Originally Posted by tanworldorder

.... I invented sanitary TNT wipes. Wipe it on your ass after a #2 and it blasts it clean.

So much faster and good for the environment.

I'd like to try a case, too. I might be interested in acquiring a territory for wholesale distribution.