Cindy Patrick would tan for about one to two months per year while at the University of Kansas, even though she said she knew that she was endangering her health.
Patrick, a KU graduate, said she had fair skin and felt pressure from friends to be tan.
“I knew tanning could cause cancer, but I didn’t really care,” Patrick said. “For me, having a tan at that particular moment far outweighed the risk of cancer.”
Then one day about five years ago, Patrick found a suspicious mole. It turned out to be melanoma. The mole was successfully removed and since then, Patrick has had 34 moles removed. She said that she was now a strong advocate against tanning beds and wears sunscreen, large hats and long sleeves for protection whenever she is outdoors.
“It has been a true change of lifestyle,” Patrick said.
A recent study from The American Academy of Pediatrics stated that melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, had increased 3 percent per year since 1992 in women ages 15 to 39 years, and it was the second most common cancer found in women in their 20s.
Patricia M. Denning, chief of staff at the University of Kansas Student Health Services, said that she believed the use of tanning beds had contributed to this rise in skin cancer.
“They may say that tanning beds are now filtering out bad rays,” Denning said. “But I’m doubtful of that.”
In December, Reuters News reported survey results from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis stating that one in three women ages 18 to 24 used tanning beds, despite the risks involved.
Many customers who frequent tanning salons believe that tanning has health benefits because of the increased vitamin D intake from UV-exposure. However, Denning said this was just a marketing tool.
“You only need about 10 or 15 minutes of sunlight a day to get the necessary amount of vitamin D,” Denning said. “You do not need to be sunbathing.”
Justine Brown, a junior from Kearney, Neb., did not worry about the risks of tanning beds until she had a wake-up call two years ago. Brown, who has a naturally pale complexion, discovered two suspicious-looking moles. She said that her doctor examined the moles and determined that they should be removed. However, the moles did not end up being cancerous, but Brown said that her doctor said that they could have easily developed into cancer in the future.
Now, Brown said that she tried to make protecting her skin from the sun a daily priority. She said that she used a daily facial moisturizer with SPF 15, and knew that she needed to use sunscreen when she was outside for extended periods of time in order to prevent getting sunburned.
“I’m always religiously applying sunscreen in the summer,” Brown said.
Although Brown takes necessary precautions, she uses tanning beds for two weeks before special occasions.
“If everybody is tanning, then there is a standard of how tan you should be,” Brown said. “There should be some sort of limit because it’s just not good for your skin.”
The AAP encouraged doctors to educate their patients about the importance of protecting their skin from the sun to prevent skin cancer. Brown said tanning salons should educate customers on how to tan more safely by wearing goggles.
Employees at the Student Health Services value the importance of educating students about sun protection. Denning said students should stay away from tanning beds, limit sun exposure, wear proper clothing, and use at least SPF 30 on a daily basis. She also said that she encouraged students to be proactive and start taking care of their skin now to protect it in the future.
“If you have a family history of melanoma or skin cancer, or if you have a suspicious lesion, come talk to us,” Denning said. “We’ll help you get into the care of a dermatologist.”