Today's glow leads to dark future

By Andrea Ragni

Spring weather at Santa Clara inevitably brings out the sun-worshippers on campus. As the weather is warms up daily, the desire to get a golden tan is one that many students feel as a driving force to abandon the indoors and head for the sunshine. Leavey pool is filled with sunbathers attempting to do homework while absorbing the sun to rid their bodies of winter-whiteness.

But with a bronzed physique comes the possibility of cancer or other skin ailments, although these fears don't exactly scare people from the sun.

Last weekend, the Leavey pool deck was packed with those eager to get a hint of color. Tanning makes some feel better all around.

"I feel better when I'm tan," freshman Kara Taylor said. "It's like getting a new haircut."

This idea seems to be one that is universal across campus. Tanners can be seen across campus and students sitting in class often gaze outside longingly at the lucky ones who get to be out in the sun during prime-tanning times. The span between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. is when the sun is at its strongest. But it is also when there are the most harmful ultraviolet rays. The desire to feel better about oneself is a driving force in tanning.

Sophomore Nate Bourque is among the hordes of students who routinely lay out on spring days.

"Personally I have like a huge attraction to tanning, it makes you feel youthful and vibrant, and above all healthy," he said. "To me, paleness is a sign of a cold, clammy, sickly person from the Midwest. We're in California and I'm proud to be able to experience the sun all year long, and take advantage of this luxury when other people in other states might have to go indoors instead."

Freshman Lauren Russi agrees.

"I think people generally feel more confident about their body and their overall appearance when they are tan, and that's why they ignore the side effects and do it," she said.

But what a tan may do for one's vanity, side effects like skin cancer and premature wrinkles can take away, reminds Angel Islas, a professor in the biology department.

"There are a number of serious consequences to long-term sun exposure, including photoaging, which is the dry wrinkled appearance, because sunlight can destroy some of the connective tissue in the skin, cataracts, and immunosuppression," he said.

To put this science into perspective, Islas says that about 20 percent of the 2 billion people who are blind due to cataracts lost their sight due to ultraviolet (UV) exposure from sunlight.

While feeling tan may indeed improve one's appearance, there are safer alternatives to baking in the sun. Just don't be fooled by tanning beds.

"Some tanning beds can actually expose you to more of the damaging UV rays than sunlight," Islas said.

But if you still desire to be tan, there are an abundance of self-tanners, or no-sun tanning solutions, to help achieve a bronze façade.

Lotions and oils can be purchased at stores ranging from $6 to $7 to designer lotions from skin-care companies.

"I've used a self-tanner called SUN," sophomore Megan O'Connor said. "If you use it right, it gives you a great tan. It's instant gratification and I don't have to worry about skin cancer."

If the threat of streaks stops you form self-tanning, maybe the Mystic Tan is something to consider. Available at most tanning salons, this spray-on form of tanning solution boasts the most natural looking tan without the streaking or orange color that is the trademark of many bottled tans.

Planet Beach, a tanning salon near Santa Clara, boasts the motto, "We are in the feel good, look good industry." They offer many options for tanning including the Mystic Tan. They offer a special for first-time mystic users, which gives two sessions of mystic tan for the price of one at $30. This affordable deal is perfect for those who wish to be bronzed and beautiful without harming their skin.

If self-tanning isn't an option, consider using some sort of sun protection while outside. Melanoma, a common type of skin cancer can be avoided if the proper precautions are taken. Use a suntan lotion with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15. This will allow for some color to come through, while protecting the skin at the same time. Do not forget to protect your eyes. Donning proper eye wear is a necessity. Make sure sunglasses have UV protection to guard eyesight.

If the threat of skin cancer does not prompt you to use skin protection, some facts may help to shed light on the problem of skin cancer. According to the National Skin Cancer Foundation, one in five Americans will get skin cancer in the course of their lifetime. More than half of all new cancers are skin cancers. The effects of photoaging (skin aging caused by the sun) can be seen as early as in one's 20s.

"As I tell my Bio 9 class on cancer, you have to think of what a tan is in biological terms," Islas said. "A tan is a response our bodies have to overexposure to sunlight. It means we're under environmental stress (namely UV light). A tan is a defense mechanism to shield us from that attack, but even a dark tan on a light-skinned person only offers an SPF protection of about four."

Explore self-tanning options that can prevent the frightening realities of tanning. If sun exposure is non-negotiable, protection can be achieved by lathering up with SPF 15 or higher, wearing sunglasses with UV protection and wearing a hat. A sun-bronzed body may not be worth the scary aftermath that could occur.

* Contact Andrea Ragni at (408) 554-4546 or aragni@scu.edu.