 "Photo: Sara Bernabeo/The Quad News")
For many, spring break is about vacationing somewhere warm, where they can soak up the sun in hopes of achieving that coveted golden tan skin. A popular habit of spring breakers is frequenting tanning salons before their journey to achieve a “base tan,” so they won’t burn on their trip. But before you lay down inside that tanning bed, take a second to think about the consequences of tanning. Sure, you’ve heard them all before, but have you ever stopped to actually think about them?
The sun’s rays contain two types of ultraviolet radiation: UVA and UVB. The epidermis is affected by UVB rays, which causes sunburns, while the UVA rays infiltrate into the lower layers of skin. Once there, UVA rays trigger cells called melanocytes. These cells produce melanin, the brown pigment that causes a person’s skin to tan. Melanin is the body’s way of protecting skin from burning, but just because you don’t burn doesn’t mean you’re free from possible cancer and other skin problems.
UVA rays are equally, if not more, harmful compared to UVB rays. This is because UVA rays go deeper into the skin, past the protective epidermis layer, where blood vessels and nerves are located. This may cause damage not only to a person’s skin, but to their immune system as well. When your immune system is weak, you become more prone to illness. When your skin is involved, that illness could be melanoma: the deadliest type of skin cancer.
“I’m doing it so I don’t burn while I’m in Florida for spring break,” said Brittany Tingler, a freshman biology major while waiting for an open bed at Tommy’s Tanning.
However, a base tan does not protect your skin from possibly burning while you’re in the harsh spring break sun.
“The base tan doesn't protect you. It's similar to a sunscreen protection factor of two to four, which is nothing,” said Dr. Beatrice Secretan of the International Agency for Research on Cancer in a People Magazine article about tanning.
Not only is the “base tan myth” false, but since July 2009, international cancer experts have placed tanning into the top cancer risk category. Tanning is a definite cause of cancer.
“I’m not going anywhere for spring break. I just feel better about myself when I’m tan,” said Kate Zajac, a junior communications major at Southern Connecticut State University, while waiting for her turn at Tommy’s Tanning.
Jutta Kramer, 27, agreed. “I look healthy when I’m a little tan.”
That’s a common theme in today’s society as well, tanning to look “healthy.” It’s ironic that what people are doing to make themselves look healthy is actually jeopardizing their health. Tanning is right alongside tobacco use and the hepatitis B virus as a leading cause of cancer.
So before you take your trip, don’t fool yourself into thinking you’re helping your skin out by getting a base tan beforehand. And if you’re a little pale, stay that way. Tanning to look healthy is increasing your chances of not being healthy. Stick to the good old fashion sun, but don’t forget to use sunscreen.
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