Summer tans, the last piece of summertime students can hang on to, begin fading once school begins in the fall. To keep their golden look, some teenagers may go to tanning salons and use tanning beds. Some tan for homecoming. Others go because their darkened skin makes them feel confident. For senior Taylor Krawczyk, tanning helps her with her psoriasis.
“[Psoriasis] is an autoimmune illness that makes my skin flare up. Usually it’s triggered by stress or another illness, like strep throat,” Krawczyk said.
Besides tanning, Krawczyk said she uses all natural soaps to help her skin. She also changed her diet to keep her immune system strong.
“I found out I had psoriasis last February, so I started tanning in March.” Krawcyzk said. “I never wanted to tan until I was told to, because I knew it would get addicting, and too much of it is bad. That’s why I’m happy that I can only go for so many minutes each time.”
Unfortunately for Krawczyk and many other teens, the privilege of tanning beds may soon be taken away.
“If I’m not able to tan and my psoriasis got bad, I’d probably have to go on some kind of medication,” Krawczyk said.
In June, Chicago became one of the first Illinois cities to ban minors from tanning beds. Any tanning facility that allows a minor to use a tanning bed can be handed a hefty fine of $250 dollars per offense.
“I don’t think [the law] is beneficial, especially for someone with a disease like mine,” Krawczyk said. “Tanning is a really good way to clear up acne, which a lot of teens struggle with.”
Shortly after, in early September, Springfield joined Chicago in the fight against indoor tanning. Springfield is also keeping minors out of the tanning beds by hitting businesses with up to a $750 fine.
“I don’t think [teens tan too much], but I definitely think it could eventually start to get out of hand,” Krawczyk said.
“The [tanning] industry strongly supports parental consent, which is already a law in New Jersey and other states,” the Indoor Tanning Association says. “It is a very slippery slope when the government starts taking away the right to make very basic parenting decisions such as this.”
The cry for a ban on indoor tanning began when numerous studies were conducted on skin cancer. One study by the International Agency for Research found that anyone who has ever tanned indoors has a 75 percent higher chance of developing a skin cancer called melanoma later in life.
Shortly after, in January, the need for restrictions on tanning beds continued when Patricia Krentcil, a New Jersey mother, was accused of allowing her five-year-old daughter to use a tanning bed after a school nurse noticed her daughter’s sunburn. The daughter said the burn was from tanning with Krentcil. Authorities arrested Krentcil, charging her with child endangerment. Krentcil pled not guilty to the charges.
Maryland’s Howard County was the first place to ban tanning for minors. As of January this year, California became the first state to ban indoor tanning from minors, even with parental consent. Vermont followed California’s lead shortly after. The Vermont ban went into effect on July 1.
Since Vermont implemented their restriction, 15 states have introduced potential laws that would ban minors from using tanning beds. Illinois is one of these states.
“The law is preventing teenagers from getting skin cancer at such a young age,” nurse Barb Giese said. “You can get melanoma skin cancer [from tanning], it can spread, and you can die from it.”
Melanoma, one of the most serious forms of skin cancer, usually begins when skin is exposed to ultraviolet rays. These rays are let off by the sun and recreated in tanning beds. The melanin, which gives the skin color, begins to grow abnormally and eventually could become cancerous.
“[If I had melanoma] I would probably cry and definitely stop tanning,” said junior Maddie King. “I play beach volleyball, so being outdoors in the sun, I would probably have to quit.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in men and the seventh in women. The risk of developing melanoma is increased 87 percent if an individual begins any type of tanning before the age of 35, according to the British Medical Journal.
“I tan once every two months,” sophomore Elle Tattoni said. “I try not to do it that often.”
King said that she tans for special occasions.
“[I tan] once a week, or depending on when I havea special occasion, like homecoming,” King said.
For freshman Brendan Madziarczyk, skin cancer hits close to home. His grandfather was diagnosed with skin cancer before Madziarczyk was born.
“[When I found out], I didn’t really know how to react. I was scared, nervous and I felt bad for him,” Madziarczyk said. “He got plenty of treatment. [Once he was diagnosed], he was only supposed to live for six months but he ended up living twelve years.”
The same study by the Mayo Clinic suggests that exposure to indoor tanning beds was a risk factor for melanoma. The risk is even greater for women under 45. The study also shows that the number of men who have been diagnosed with melanoma has increased four times since 1970. As for women, melanoma has increased eight times since 1970.
“I know that I’m only in high school and I won’t continue to tan forever,” King said. “Tanning definitely isn’t worth getting melanoma.”