The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD) found that 7.8 million women and 1.9 million men in the United States tan indoors.
Within this range, 59 percent of American college students have reported using a tanning bed in their lifetime, according to aad.org.
While many students understand that tanning indoors can lead to dangers such as cancer, they continue to do it based on the belief that a “base tan” can help protect the skin when tanning outdoors.
“I have used tanning beds this semester but I only used them for going away to Florida for spring break, so I wouldn’t burn like crazy. I don’t use them all year long and I don’t think there is a need to. I don’t think it’s healthy,” Ferris dental hygienist senior Vanessa Wojno said.
However, the Centers for Disease Control and Pre- vention (CDC) has found that a getting a base tan is not safe, with tanning bed use increasing the chance of getting sun- burned.
“I think tanning beds are extremely dangerous and an unnecessary hazard. Especially when you can go out and buy a tanning lotion that won’t harm you in anyway,” Ferris history senior Mikayla Baarlaer said.
According to cdc.gov, the use of tanning beds can also cause premature skin aging, changing in a person’s skin temperature and increasing the chance of contracting blinding eye diseases.
“I’m not fully informed or educated on the dangers of tanning beds but I do know it can cause skin cancer, so that’s something you want to be aware of. Because I know that it can be dangerous, that’s why I think you should only go in so often if you do tan,” Ferris pre-dental Jenna Miller said.