My 14-year-old neighbor is tanner than me, and it’s not because she just returned from a trip to the Bahamas for spring break. In fact, she and her family have yet to leave on their spring vacation. The reason she is sporting a golden tan is because she is a regular visitor at our local tanning salon.
It goes without saying that fake baking exposes people to potentially dangerous radiation. Moreover, according to a recent health study, a million people will get skin cancer this year–—many of those cases caused by exposure to ultraviolet rays—the same rays found in tanning beds.
So, we’ve established that tanning salons are not good for you, but that’s not the point of this blog. The point I want to make is that tanning salons are required to post age requirements in clear sight for customers to read. The state of Wisconsin (where we reside) mandates that no one under the age of 16 is allowed to use a tanning device—not even with parental consent. So why has my 14-year-old neighbor been able to pay for and take part in 10 tanning sessions in the last month? The first reason is because her mother didn’t know that she was spending her afternoons sitting in a tanning salon (until her skin started to look a bit toasty). The second reason is simply because in many tanning salons the state statute is not being enforced as it should be. Essentially, the rules are being ignored. (I suppose with the tanning industry raking in about $5 billion a year, why would an 18-year-old salon counter clerk make the effort to card a 14-year-old who wants to tan for 15 minutes?)
Who knew underage tanning was against the law? I didn’t. (Then again, I don’t frequent tanning salons.) I would be livid if I found out my daughter was visiting one without my permission (not that she would get it). I grew up in Hawaii in the days before SPF’s, big hats, and flashy colored lip balms (it was more like baby oil and reflectors). As someone who has experienced the consequences of tanning (more burning than tanning) I would beg a teen to stay away from tanning salons.
What’s more, these days there are a number of alternatives to tanning. For example, you could get a spray on tan or use a tan towel, which allows you to rub color on your skin. It certainly doesn’t hurt to spare your skin from ultraviolet rays… and potentially skin cancer.
Related Articles:
Get Your Skin Ready For Summer!
Enjoy Your Day at the Spa Safely