Chemistry and microbiology junior Caleb Weidner gets a tanning session on Monday at Mexico Tanning. Weidner said every winter transparency becomes a serious issue, and tanning helps fix this.
1.27.12
Tan vs. Pale
kristen koester-smith | uiargonaut.com
It’s a proverbial problem — mostly for white girls — the choice to be tan now and deal with wrinkles and, much worse, possible skin cancer later, or to be pale now with long term smoother skin and a much-lessened chance of skin cancer.
The good news for lovers of tanning is new evidence that the sun’s vitamin D prevents certain cancers.
Michael Holick, an award-winning doctor who specializes in vitamin D research, said in a recent interview with “Natural News” there is evidence that active 125-dihydroxy vitamin D works as a cell regulator. He said his studies have found that people in higher latitude areas with high vitamin D deficiencies are more likely to get common cancers and die of them.
Habitual tanners enjoy getting vitamin D at a salon in the winter. University of Idaho senior Hollie Garrision said although she cares a lot about the health of her skin, she loves the mood boost tanning gives her.
Moscow Family Medicine’s laser technician, Lynn Posey, said it’s safer for people to take vitamin D supplements instead of risking their skin in a tanning bed for a mood lift.
However, the 125-dihydroxy vitamin D supplement that regulates cell growth is only available with a prescription, according to Holick.
Despite possible health benefits of active vitamin D, the dangers of tanning beds cannot be ignored. Posey said she treats people with skin damage caused by the sun or fake tanning all the time.
“I see a lot of patients come in with dark spots, wrinkles and all those things in their 30s, 40s and 50s, wanting to get them taken care of, and it’s old damage that’s been done,” Posey said. “You may not see the damage that it’s doing before several years, but it definitely still causes issues as you age.”
Posey said UV radiation from the sun and tanning beds hardens the skin, like it does animal hides left in the sun. Her best advice to people who want to have beautiful skin is to accept their natural color..
Katy Garrison, UI junior, said she has come to terms with her paleness, but also indulges in some alternative methods to tanning.
“Skin cancer kind of runs in my family and I have really fair skin. As much as I would love to get skin cancer by 25 or my skin to look like leather by the time I’m 25, I just choose to spray tan or some alternate form,” Katy Garrison said.
Hollie Garrison said even though she continues to tan, the risk of skin cancer and aging scares her.
“(The dangers are) in the back of my mind when I do tan, and I can turn to the alternative of spray tanning, but with spray tanning I don’t get the vitamin D and it doesn’t increase my mood,” Hollie Garrison said. “I just kind of try to cut down as little as possible.”
She said she tries to limit her tanning to once a week or less. She also lets her doctor know she tans and to examine her skin for any problems. She said she doesn’t think she is addicted to tanning, but she thinks some people are.
Katy Garrison also said it’s obvious when someone has a “problem” with tanning.
“I think there are definitely situations where people can be too tan. It’s everybody’s personal preference, but you can make yourself look terrible.” Katy Garrison said. “Tanning does have a lot of draw backs, and I think that’s definitely one of them.”
She said she thinks media has an influence on people’s desire to be tan.
“It’s popular to be tan on TV, so people want to be as dark as they can,” Katy Garrison said.
Hollie Garrison said she has heard girls say, ‘Tan fat looks better than white fat.’ She said she thinks most people tan because they think it makes them look better.
Most people know the risks and tanning salons do a good job of informing people of how to prevent themselves from getting burnt, Hollie Garrison said. All tanning salons also require proper eye wear when tanning.
A popular YouTube video, “Dear 16-year-old Me,” features skin cancer survivors and people who have lost loved ones to skin cancer talking about what they would tell their younger selves about taking care of their skin. The video shows some of the results of being careless with sun protection.
The government is trying to discourage people from tanning by passing a recent bill to impose a 10 percent tax on salon tanning bed sessions.
Posey said this could deter people from tanning, but it’s not the place of the government to make these decisions for people.
“We need to be good consumers and smart individuals and decide for ourselves,” Posey said. “The research is there and it’s available online and people are going to do what they want to do.”
If people are determined to tan, Posey said the smartest thing to do is at least protect their face by applying sunscreen. She said she remembers being in her 20s and wanting to be tan, but being tan is not worth the risk.
“I was in my 20s, I thought that I was invincible and nothing was going to happen to me. You know, that changes as you get older,” Posey said. “Some things you can’t go back and fix.”
