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Salon operators reply that tanning machines are safer than sunlight because they can be more carefully regulated. "Anything can be abused," says Randy Novak, owner of Tan Chicago. "But the damage from sunbathing comes from out of doors because it isn't controllable. You can reduce the danger at a tanning parlor." The Food and Drug Administration requires tanning machines to carry labels warning that users should wear goggles to protect their eyes and that people taking photosensitive drugs, including some antibiotics, should consult their doctors before going under the lamps.
Whatever the risks, tan enthusiasts seem willing to overlook them for the immediate benefit: a healthy-looking golden glow. Says Rob Bernstein, 31, who spends 30 minutes each weekday at a tanning salon in Dallas: "I think a year- round tan is a good, successful, power look. It's just a part of good grooming." Better yet, a tan in the dead of winter implies that the wearer has the money and leisure to travel to exotic, sunny locales. Says Jeff Russell, 23, of Evanston, Ill.: "It's a conversation piece. People are always asking, 'Where have you been?' " The only problem is that the truthful answer may soon be all too commonplace: down at the tanning salon for a quick once-over.