How old do you have to be to work at Sun Tan City in Iowa?

"Originally STC was just a stepping-stone during college. I quickly advanced into a Salon Director in the first year. I fell in love with the atmosphere and growth potential. I realized that I wanted to grow here, and I am doing just that."

Brittini Ball, Salon Director

Why I Tan: When you look good, you feel good. Plus, free tanning!? Who wouldn't take advantage of such a wonderful incentive?

Favorite Product: Designer Skin Astonish

"Before Sun Tan City, I had never had the support system that I have now. My peers, District Manager, and the VP of Operations support my growth. I continue to learn and grow in my position. I cannot thank them enough for helping me find my purpose."

Jenifer Goshen, District Manager In Training

Why I Tan: It's my 10-12 minutes of peace where I can shut out the world, it's my style of meditation.

Favorite Product: Designer Skin Color Correcting Primer

"I love the atmosphere my salon creates that makes me want to come in each day. When I hear, "I love knowing you're the face I see every time I come tan." It brightens my mood and pushes me to work harder. I look forward my future at Sun Tan City."

Emmy Trawick, Assistant Salon Director

Why I Tan: I love to tan, because it gives me a chance to relax and let all the stress of the day fade away.

Favorite Product: Sahara Jewel is my all-time favorite lotion.

"Working at Sun Tan City started out as just a part-time stepping stone for me. Turns out that this is one of the most fun, energetic and dynamic companies that I have ever worked for, including the food, hospitality, and retail clothing industries."

Savannah Gilbert, District Manager

Why I Tan: It's the perfect opportunity to do something nice for myself and unwind.

Favorite Product: Designer Skin Sunless Tan Extender - wonderful scent and perfect boost of color and moisture for my skin.

A public hearing will be held 10 a.m. April 20 for a potential ordinance that will set new age requirements for tanning bed facilities. 

The Story County Board of Health announced the potential regulation in February, holding a stakeholders' meeting at the time. The proposed tanning ordinance targets tanning facilities that use ultraviolet light and, if passed, would require customers to be over the age of 18.

The supervisors approved the public hearing date during the consent agenda at their regular meeting Tuesday at 10 a.m.

Dr. Tim Hansen, a dermatologist at McFarland Clinic, told the Tribune restricting minors from tanning salons is crucial for cancer prevention as the earlier the DNA damage begins, the higher the risk. 

►More: Story County ordinance could ban minors from using tanning beds; restriction could prevent cancer risk

Iowa is one of seven states without any tanning bed restrictions for minors. 

Wade Teslow, who owns Sun Tan City salons across Iowa, spoke at the February meeting in favor of having an age requirement. Teslow owns six salons evenly dispersed among Dubuque County, Black Hawk County and Story Couty, as well as one in Fort Dodge and one in Mason City.

"Currently, Iowa has no age restriction at all, and Sun Tan City doesn't agree with that," Teslow said. "We are ready to not let anyone tan that's under the age of 16."

Teslow proposed Story County follow the Scott County regulation which restricts those under 16 from going to tanning beds unless given parental permission. 

"There are certain reasons medically and mentally that people do need to tan," Teslow said. "So I would think it wouldn't make sense to totally take that option away from people."

An article in the National Institutes of Health says, among the risks, ultraviolet tanning can lead to an increased mood and offers two to four SPF of skin protection.

Sun Tan City has already restricted minors under 16 from using their facilities for about a decade, he said.

But the risks include melanoma, “the third most common type of skin cancer but by far the more deadly of the top three,” Hansen told the Tribune.

McFarland Clinic dermatologist Dr. Daniel MacAlpine said at the February meeting he was in favor of restricting all minors.

"The problem with parental consent is half of these young girls tan with the mother," MacAlpine said. 

Joe Levy, director for scientific affairs with American Sun Tan Association, said at the February meeting their group had supported legislation at the state level to regulate age requirements. Levy said most tanning salons already have age restrictions regardless of state law. 

Levy argued it is safer to allow minors to use professional facilities with parental permission since an at-home tanning bed could be more harmful and lacks the scientifically-based settings and guidelines of a professional salon. 

"It is the non-salon sunbeds that are generating the increase in risk," Levy said. "We want to be part of the solution in helping to teach sunburn prevention for everybody."

Visit www.storycountyiowa.gov/92/Board-of-Supervisors to find future meeting agendas and learn how to listen in on future meetings, which continue to be held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Danielle Gehr is a politics and government reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached by email at , phone at (515) 663-6925 or on Twitter at @Dani_Gehr.

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