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Illinois Considers Banning Teen Tanning
Photo Credit: http://www.wolfftanning.com/images/Chrome-Open.jpg
When laying in a tanning bed, it may be relaxing, but you are putting your skin at risk of getting melanoma.
Sydni McCoskey, Staff Reporter
February 22, 2012
Filed under Opinion
Illinois legislatures are considering the passing of a new law on the use of tanning beds. This law would prevent teen ages 15 to 17 from using tanning beds without first gaining parent consent. While they have yet enact this law, but it is being considered.
The ban would hurt business for many salons in the state. Many of them have about five to ten percent of customers that are under 18. Junior Lexi Rivas does not agree with this law because she works at Rivera Tan, and this could result in her losing her job because she is not 18. Rivas said, “I love my job because I get to educate others on the benefits of tanning.” She thinks it should be the teens choice to tan as long as they do it responsibly and not everyday. Rivas thinks stars promote tanning to teens because celebrities are coming out with their own tanning lotions.
Ted Lieu and ban supporters from California said, “The higher age limit is needed because skin damage caused by the type of radiation used in tanning beds often leads to melanoma, which is skin cancer that can be fatal.” That is why Mrs. Kelly Godar, a health teacher at PCHS, agrees with the proposed law but does think it is okay for 16 or 17 years olds to tan with parent consent, as long as the parents are aware of the risks of tanning. Godar said, “If I had a teen who wanted to tan, I would not let them unless it was for a special occasion but only a couple times.”
Girls are surrounded by the message that being tanned all year is cool. Pop music star Katy Perry is even singing about it. There are more tanning salons than Starbucks or Mcdonalds in the United States. It is surprising that with the high risk of skin cancer, girls are still going to tanning beds.
Spray tans have really caught on, and Godar thinks spray tans are much better and have no risk for skin cancer. Rivas said, “When getting spray tans, you have to be careful because you can inhale all the fumes, but it is much safer than using tanning beds.” Teens need to be aware when they tan what is happening to their skin besides getting color.
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