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Health
inspectors at the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health
routinely inspect tanning facilities.
Before
you visit a tanning salon, consider the health and safety issues:
| Ask
to see your tanning salon's operation permit, which is issued
by the Iowa Department of Public Health. Facilities are inspected by the
Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health. |
| At
your first visit, if the operator does not have you read a
list of photosensitizing drugs and health warnings, ask for
them. Make sure you sign a statement that you have read the Iowa Department of Public Health warnings. You should do this every year. If
you are taking any medications, especially those on the list,
talk to your health care provider so you can avoid skin reactions
such as burns, blotches, rashes etc. Even ibuprofen or birth control pills can make
your skin extra sensitive to burning. |
| Use
protective eyewear. State rules say you cannot share eyewear - even if it has been cleaned. Put on the eyewear before
turning on the bed. Remove contact lenses to prevent them
from sticking. |
| Follow
exposure schedules according to skin type. Be conservative
and use less time rather than take the risk of burning. Don't
ask the operator to change the schedule. Changing the schedule
is not only breaking the law, but increases the risk of burning.
Turning pink can mean you have burned. Once you notice a burn, it's too late. |
| Only
tan at one facility. Tanning at more than one increases the
chances of burning. And if there is a problem with burning,
it may be difficult to determine if the cause is a particular
unit or overexposure. |
| Never
tan more than once a day. Some tanning beds require longer breaks between tanning sessions |
| Report
any reactions to the facility operator. They should note the
reaction on your file for future reference. If you
don't report it, the operator can't work with you to correct
the problem. |
To report
any complaints against a facility, write to:
The
Iowa Department of Public Health, Bureau of Radiological Health
401 SW 7th St. #D
Des Moines, IA 50309-4611
Phone:
515-725-0306
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