Deadly Glow

The educational programs and large number of opportunities within the city of Tampa are not the main reason UT recruits a high number of Northeastern students. They come for the sunshine lifestyle. Students may miss class and take off from work, but due to the packed crowds fleeing to the pool daily, students are not missing out on getting their wonderful golden tans. “No reason to go back to Connecticut for Spring Break, said Junior Jennifer Caputo. I am staying here to planning on baking in the sun all week long.”


Recent studies continue to show evidence proving individuals can physically become addicted to tanning. American Academy of Dermatology found tanners have withdrawal symptoms when they were exposed to naltrexone, a drug that blocks a narcotic-like substance produced in the skin during tanning. “When I have no coloring I feel and look unhealthy,” said Senior Casey Harvey. Psychologically tanners get a high from the endorphins they receive from their skin, said researcher Mandeep Kaur, MD, a dermatologist at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

Obsessive tanners share some of the same characteristics of substance abuse addicts. “I tanned every day, sometimes twice a day throughout my junior and senior years of high school, confessed Carolyn Walburgh, a 20 year old student. I spent around three thousand dollars and at 18 years old I was diagnosed with skin cancer.” Walburgh now prefers her health over her bronzed skin. Even with the increasing knowledge proving the effects of tanning, statistics continue to be on the rise for individuals developing skin cancer.


Both guys and girls are always looking to have a perfect tan because it boosts their physical confidence. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, but young adults have a hard time looking at how their actions now will drastically affect their future. First priority many students have when returning back to Florida is to immediately get their tan on.


This past season has been unseasonably cold; therefore students have fled to the indoor tanning beds to get their fix. Even though we are in the Sunshine State you can easily find a tanning salon within every few blocks. Unfortunately the indoor fake bake is more damaging than the sun giving off more UVA rays.


With the recent return of students from Spring Break you commonly find many covered with burnt faces and intense tan lines. The Skin Cancer Foundation reports only about 70% percent of the population use any form of skin protection products. It is insane that even with all the open knowledge this generation has of the dangerous effects of tanning; it just keeps becoming an increasing trend within our society.