With less than six weeks until spring break, some Ohio State students are flocking to the nearest tanning salons for the perfect base tan.
Close to a million Americans visit one of the more than 18,000 tanning salons in the United States each day.
“I simply like the golden glow of tanning and having some color all year round” said Amanda Shull, a sophomore in psychology.
The average 15-20 minute visit to the tanning salon equals an entire day at the beach. Most salons put a 20-minute limit on the timing of tanning to decrease the chance of burning.
A tanning bed consists of a tubular capsule- like structure with bulbs on the top and bottom that give off strong ultraviolet A or ultraviolet B rays. Many tanning salons use UVA light sources. These lamps emit two to three times the amount of UVA that reaches earth from the sun.
“Most students come in for a base tan before they head to their spring break destination so they do not burn from the sun on spring break,” said Jennifer Henson of California Sun tanning salon.
According to Henson, with indoor tanning one attracts less rays than outdoor tanning.
“Safety and education is critical on running a tanning salon. It is standard for eye goggles and photosynthesis agent drug list to be issued to every client,” Henson said.
The common trend known as “fake and bake” can cause serious health problems after that lovely golden tan has faded. Most of the damaging exposure because of sunlight occurs before the age 20.
Yet, like UVB rays, UVA rays also are linked to immune system damage. In 1997, ultraviolet light whether from the sun or artificial light was listed as “known to be a human carcinogen.”
Short term effects of tanning include redness and itchy, dry skin. While the long-term effects range from sagging, wrinkled skin to skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer. Half of all new cancers in the Western population is skin cancer.
The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control encourage people to avoid tanning beds. The American Medical Association and the American Academy of Dermatology are urging the ban of the sales and usage of tanning equipment for non-medical purposes.
“I do not think tanning is healthy, because when I did go tanning last year, I got very burned with lines all over my back,” said Katie Trainer, a junior in business.
“We live in Ohio, and people shouldn’t be tanned in the winter,” Trainer said.
Tanning can help with medical problems such as psoriasis, a skin disorder that causes the body to grow more skin than is actually needed. With the help of tanning, the extra skin is burned off.
Tiffany May, a senior in fashion, was told by her dermatologist to go tanning to reduce her dry skin.
“By tanning I can ensure that my skin is in a healthier condition and it chases the winter blues away” May said.
If students do not want to involve themselves with the tanning controversy, there are alternatives. Students can buy a tan in a bottle and still achieve their golden glow.
“These self tanners are very popular this time of the year,” said Sharon Davis, of Estee Lauder at Northland Mall’s Lazarus. “Self tanner sales have increased since people have become more educated on the hazards of the sun.”
Most of these self tanners condition the skin, have tan boosters and nice aromas.
Sunless self tanner lotions contain dihydroxyacetone, a colorless sugar that darkens the skin by staining.
They work by interacting with dead surface skin cells found in the epidermis, producing a color change.
Active ingredients such as vitamins, antioxidants and alpha hydroxy acids are added benefits to self tanners. Sunless self tanners are now formulated for all skin types, but students should be aware tanners provide little protection from the sun.
