Teens tanning for prom, despite restrictions

[Editor-in-Chief]

Teens tanning for prom, despite restrictions
By Paul Sloth

Journal Times

RACINE - Heather Oberhaus bought her prom dress. She plans to wear flip-flops and she doesn't have a matching purse. The only thing she can think about now is getting just the right tan to look good for the big night, which is a little more than a month away.

Oberhaus, 18, a St. Catherine's High School senior, is among the many local teenagers who hit the tanning beds around Racine to get ready for prom.

The coral-colored dress she will wear to prom, just looks better on someone with a tan, Oberhaus said.

Whether they're getting ready for prom or heading somewhere warm for spring break, teenagers flock to tanning salons. However, more states are joining the nearly 30, including Wisconsin, that already restrict teenagers' use of tanning beds.

Public health experts and medical professionals continue to warn people about the dangers of ultraviolet, UV radiation from the sun, tanning beds, and sun lamps.

Two types of ultraviolet radiation are Ultraviolet A (UVA) and Ultraviolet B (UVB). UVB has long been associated with sunburn while UVA has been recognized as a deeper penetrating radiation, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Oberhaus said many of her friends use tanning beds, too - some more than others do. However, the warnings that tanning beds could be dangerous don't worry her.

"If I did it all the time, I might be a little more worried," she said.

States push for restrictions

Although scientists have known for some time that too much UV radiation can be harmful, new information makes these warnings even more important.

Some scientists have suggested recently that there may be an association between UVA radiation and malignant melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer.

"Indoor tanning is an unnecessary activity. While it produces a temporary cosmetic effect, it can cause long-term health problems," said Dr. Arielle N.B. Kauvar, a professor of dermatology at New York University School of Medicine. "Overexposure to ultraviolet radiation is the most preventable cause of skin cancer. Self-tanning products are a safe alternative way to get the cosmetic effect."

So far this year, 14 states have introduced new legislation to restrict tanning bed use by teens, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Wisconsin is among the states already restricting tanning bed use. In Wisconsin, no one under 16 can use tanning devices, like tanning beds.

Most skin damage from the sun occurs before age 18 and, according to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Since children tend to spend more time outdoors than adults, most people in the United States get 80 percent of their lifetime sun exposure before the age of 18.

Research shows that blistering sunburns and overexposure during childhood greatly increase the chances of developing skin cancer later in life.

More than one million Americans tan in tanning salons, on an average day, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, 70 percent of whom, are Caucasian girls and women, 16 to 49 years old.

Each year the numbers increase, despite research demonstrating the risks of indoor tanning - including premature aging such as age spots and wrinkles, as well as, the danger of skin cancer.

Current research also has shown a connection between indoor tanning and melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer and the second most common cancer among women aged 20 to 29. Doctors will diagnose more than one million new cases of skin cancer this year and it is estimated that there will be 111,900 new cases of melanoma diagnosed in the United States.

A healthy appearance?

According to a 2006 survey by the American Academy of Dermatology, 69 percent of male and 61 percent of female respondents said people look better with a tan, and 60 percent of men and 54 percent of women thought that a tan gave them a "healthy" appearance. Instead of being a sign of health, a tan is the body's way of protecting itself from the damage it has received.

John Razdik, owner of J&N Ultra Tan in Racine, offers spray tan booths in addition to traditional tanning beds at the two locations he and his wife, Norma, own.

"It's a seasonal business," Razdik said. "With people traveling, prom and weddings, this time of year we are a little bit busier than at other times."

Razdik said about 25 to 30 percent of his clients at his two locations do only the spray tan because it's UV free.

"What's nice about the spray tan is that there are no restrictions for teenagers," Razdik said.

Oberhaus, who tans at J&N, said she tried the spray tan once for her school's winter formal. She didn't like it because it washed off too easily.

Oberhaus knows her mom, Cindy Gross, isn't thrilled that she uses tanning beds. Gross said she worries because the rays from the tanning beds aren't natural.

However, her daughter said she would continue using them, responsibly.

"Tanning is really relaxing," Oberhaus said. "It's kind of nice, especially when it's cold out, to just lie in a warm bed."

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