GTL. but less gym, more tan, and little laundry

What is one thing that prom season, spring break, and Snooki all have in common? Tanning. Millions of teenagers and adults across the nation are taking note of their wintery white skin and wanting to darken things up a bit. The majority of these people are only thinking in a very narrowed direction of wanting to be tan, and these days a tanning bed is their answer. The problem? Well, the extremely harmful effects of laying in a tanning bed are being ignored.

The World Health Organization reports that the “use of sunbeds before the age of 35 is associated with a 75% increase in the risk of melanoma. Skin cancer is caused primarily by exposure to ultraviolet (UV)
radiation – either from the sun or from artificial sources such as sunbeds.”

The concern of the harmful effects primarily belongs to the younger generation who is distracted with body image and less aware of reality.

“I used to go to the tanning salon at least once a week in high school,” Emily Bridges, a third year psychology major said, “but now I will just go when I have a big event or something to go to. I know it isn’t exactly healthy for my skin but I don’t go often.”

The US is considering a ban on tanning bed usage for teens,

enforcing it with a fine.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

The information of unsafe tanning is available and known, however, students seem to be holding onto an idea that “it won’t happen to me.” Laying in tanning beds, whether for 5 minutes or 20 minutes, exposes the skin to dangerous UV radiation which often leads to skin cancer.

“Skin Cancer does not run in my family,” Bridges continues, “even my mom was a tan-aholic at my age and she is skin cancer free. I’m not oblivious to the dangers of tanning, so I try to minimize my exposure to it.”

The Huffington Post reports, "12 states in the U.S. have bills pending that propose age restrictions for using commercial tanning salons, (ABC News). Among them: California, Illinois and New York. In fact, Texas, always on the cutting edge, banned sun beds for anyone under 16-and-a-half years old.” Clearly, the proposal to place a ban on tanning beds signifies the dangers that are involved with using one.

With the sunny summer months approaching, it is vital that students understand the impact they are creating for themselves later in life just to have a glowing tan for a few weeks.