CREDIT: CTHEALTHCENTRAL.COM
The “healthy glow” a tanning bed offers could come with some serious side effects.

The weather is beginning to warm up and students are saying goodbye to sweaters and jeans and hello to t-shirts and shorts. The long, cold winter may have left some individuals feeling slightly pale and lackluster. It is around this time of year when that craving for a deep, glowing tan begins to set in for some people. However, the weather has not yet reached a hot enough temperature to lie out and let the sun do its job, so what are more and more students beginning to turn to? Tanning beds.

“The (ultraviolet rays) emitted from tanning beds can be up to five times stronger than the midday sun,” said Sara Trotta, coordinator of community health partnerships for youth at the Canadian Cancer Society. “Indoor tanning beds release ultraviolet radiation which can cause damage to your skin and eventually lead to melanoma ... Using a tanning bed before the age of 35 can increase a person's risk of developing skin cancer by as much as 75 per cent.”

According to the National Cancer Institute, women who use tanning beds more than once a month are 55 per cent more likely to develop malignant melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer.

Tanning beds are one of the top causes of cancer, along with cigarettes and mustard gas. So why do people continue to use them even though they are aware of the risks? The media has created a positive vibe around tans, making them seem desirable. “I think shows like Jersey Shore, where the girls are overly tanned, give young woman the impression that tanning is associated with beauty,” said Trotta.

Renee (who asked that we not publish her last name) started going to tanning booths three times per week when she was 22 years old. She enjoyed the look of a tan and was happy with the compliments she would receive about her skin tone. Even though she stopped tanning at age 26, the damage was already done. When she was 35 she found out that she had stage one melanoma — skin cancer. Even though this is the least dangerous stage, she is lucky that she caught it early on, or it could have spread throughout her body, and there is still a chance that the cancer will return. “Even if it is a minor case (of melanoma), it still has a longterm impact on how you look,” stated Renee, who is now 37 years old. She has to deal with deep scars across her shoulder from where the cancer was removed.

Canada's tanning industry will be undergoing some changes due to the proposal of a new bill. If Bill C-74 is passed, anyone under the age of 18 will not be allowed to use a tanning bed. Also, tanning salons will not be allowed to hire anyone who is not a certified, trained professional. Tanning bed operators will need to ask for identification from anyone who appears to be under the age of 25. Renee said she agrees strongly with the new legislation. “I don't think anyone under 18 should be going (to tanning beds), especially now that they have spray tans and creams.”

So before you step into that tanning salon, keep in mind the risks you are taking. Is adding that subtle glow to your skin really a dire need? Is that deep, brown shade really worth the risk of cancer, wrinkles, sagging skin, and sunspots? “I wish I hadn't (gone tanning) like I did for many years, very frequently. You know, looking back, it's not worth it at all,” Renee said.