As Wisconsin moves into the coldest days of winter and spring break is in the not-so-distant future, many UW-Madison students flock to local tanning salons.
Tanning, long touted in the popular press as “dangerous,” may have benefits as well, thus igniting a debate over whether the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.
Many students say they tan because they feel it improves their appearance.
“I like to tan because it makes me look healthier,” said UW senior Brittany Steuer. “I get a little exposure to the sun; I get a little vitamin D.”
Jenny Mead, who owns the Tropic Tan Spa, said many students who tan do so for similar reasons.
“It’s therapeutic,” Mead said. “People like to tan because when they think they look better, they feel better.”
Other students tan in preparation for an upcoming vacation, or to maintain an existing tan afterwards.
“Lots of people want to build a base tan before they go on vacation,” Mead said. “They don’t want to spoil their trip by getting sunburned the first day.”
While many students tan for vanity reasons, others claim they tan for medical benefits.
The Mayo Clinic cites evidence suggesting Seasonal Affective Disorder is a problem affecting one in 20 Americans, primarily those living in the northern United States. SAD occurs when a person is not exposed to enough sunlight; its symptoms include headaches, sleeping problems, crying spells, lethargy, fatigue, weight gain, and depression.
UW junior Rachel Schoen said tanning helps her combat seasonal depression.
“I tan because the lack of sun in the wintertime makes me feel kind of bitchy,” she said. “I feel a huge difference in my mood after I tan.”
However, Dr. Nancy Barklage, UW associate professor of psychiatry, said tanning is not an effective treatment for SAD.
“The benefits of light therapy appear to be mediated through the retina,” Barklage said, “A tanning bed would not be the right light source, as tanning beds are primarily UV rays, which can be damaging to the retina.”
Light therapy is not the only possible medical use for tanning beds. Vicki Roche, an employee of the Sun Spa, said many clients tan to alleviate symptoms of skin problems.
“A lot of people come because their dermatologist recommended tanning to help with their psoriasis or eczema,” Roche said.
Despite possible benefits of tanning, the negative affects deter people.
Graduate student Ryan Nichols said he would never tan because he agrees it is dangerous.
“Tanning beds should be called ‘cancer coffins,'” Nichols said.
According to a website maintained by the Indiana State Medical Association, tanning does not provide benefits and can cause cancer.
“There is nothing healthy about a dark tan. It’s actually a sign the skin has been damaged and continual tanning, especially in tanning beds, can develop melanoma — the most dangerous type of skin cancer,” the website said.
The website for the American Academy of Dermatology said prolonged exposure to UV rays in tanning beds increases the risk of health problems.
“The truth is that … stretching out on a tanning bed significantly raises the risk of health problems ranging from wrinkles, visual abnormalities, and immune system disorders to malignant melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. In fact, even short-term indoor tanning may produce redness, itching and dry skin,” the website said.
