I’ve written before about why I don’t tan, and unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few years, you know that tanning carries with it some pretty serious risks. Still, up to 80 percent of people under 25 are convinced that they look better with a tan, and every single day, more than one million Americans visit tanning salons. As dangerous as natural sun exposure can be, it seems that tanning beds may be even worse. People who have used indoor tanning beds are at a 75% higher risk for melanoma, the most lethal form of skin cancer.

So why do people take the risk? Because they want to look good. And, according to a new study, they may be addicted. In 2005, scientists showed that many sunbathers met the medical definition of substance abuse disorder. This inspired researchers from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center to dig a little deeper. Their results, which were published over the summer, found that brain scans of frequent tanners showed activity that was similar to the patterns of drug addiction.

The subjects of the study were people who reported tanning at least three times a week, and said that maintaining a tan was important to them. Researchers suspected that the tanners were addicted to the UV light they were exposed to in the tanning beds. So they gave participants a normal tanning experience sometimes, but at other times used a special filter to block out the UV rays. And even though the tanners were unaware of the change, they subconsciously knew that something was off. Participants enjoyed the normal sessions, but after the fake sessions, subjects said that they still felt like they needed to tan. Researchers say that these people really do appear to be addicted to tanning.

And now, if there are similar tanning addicts who are under 18, they’re about to have a problem. Just a few weeks ago, the Governor of California signed a law making the use of tanning beds illegal for all minors. A few states already ban tanning beds for people under 16 or under 14, and now 17 states are considering laws similar to California’s. Many medical organizations and skin cancer advocates say this is a great step, and have voiced support for these laws. But owners of tanning salons worry that this will hurt business and cause people to lose jobs. Most of all, frequent tanners complain that tanning is a choice, and one that they have a right to make.

What do you think? Should people be able to make their own choices about tanning despite its risks? Or is it important to pass these laws in order to protect people, especially teens?

I’m really starting to get skeptical of these studies that try to dissuade you from doing something unhealthy by suggesting a healthy alternative that can supposedly provide you with the same astounding results. Next thing I know, they’re gonna make up some “healthy” alternative that provides you with the sweet satisfaction that is college belligerence.

The most recent study? Veggies will tan you.

Scientists are claiming that incorporating more cantaloupe, apricots, carrots, peppers and spinach into your diet can give your skin a golden glow. In the study, Caucasian volunteers who consumed a diet rich in orange and green fruits and vegetables were said to have even preferred the look of the golden glow effect from the diet to the darker effect from the sun. The scientists go on to say that this kind of produce-rich diet can make the skin look more attractive in just a month. (Or your money back?! If this doesn’t sound like some kind of sleazy infomercial, I don’t know what does.)

This must mean no more laying out in those harmful UV rays to get my summer tan, right?
I’m not so sure.

In my lovely household my mother has long enforced the “Green Vegetable Rule.” It’s, without a doubt, pretty silly and childish, but the rule is if we want dessert we must first devour some greens. This often includes peppers or spinach. And guess what?  While I’m quite regular (if you know what I’m sayin’), my skin tone still somehow manages to resemble the pale and sterile color of my bare dorm walls.

It’s hard not to stand behind a scientific study that promotes healthy eating and healthy living habits, but I just have to wonder about this one.

How is this even possible?
How many cantaloupes do I have to eat daily before my skin starts to resemble one?
Won’t eating spinach turn me a nice shade of green instead of giving me a healthy, not-so-sun-kissed glow?

Most importantly, what about The Situation; will he be swapping GTL for GVL?

I am pale.  White, pasty, corpse-like, albino, pallid- that’s me.  It wasn’t always me, mind you.  See, once upon a time I sought solitude and relaxation in the warm bluish-white glow of the tanning bed.  Those of you who tan, you know what I’m talking about.  You get out of class completely drained (because the Sudoku was really tough today) and head to your car.  Maybe it’s raining, maybe it’s not.  Maybe it’s the middle of December, or maybe Spring Break is a week away.  It doesn’t matter.  The light at the end of your tunnel is florescent and comes with the scent of coconut oil.

I’ve been there.  Chasing happiness through monthly memberships and bonus lotion deals, fighting hangovers as you listen to the best of the 80s, 90s, and today, as you fake-bake your way to sun kissed bliss. You know tanning is bad for you (the warnings are everywhere), but you don’t care. You don’t do it that much. You won’t get cancer. And you look so much better tan!

So you keep on keepin’ on.

Well, what if I showed you what tanning does to those precious looks to hold so dearly? Would that change your mind?  Looks like it.

A new study out of East Tennessee State University found that women (and men – I’m lookin’ at you, Jersey Shore cast) are more apt to listen to warnings that tanning will deteriorate their looks than the boring ol’ cancer threats.  While both statements are true – you’re basically asking for skin cancer when you tan, and yeah, those intense, concentrated rays cause wrinkles, sunspots, and leathery handbag hands – the latter is taken far more seriously by habitual tanners. So much so that those who had seen their futures (which happen to look eerily similar to Donatella Versace and George Hamilton) changed their tanning practices dramatically.

Makes sense, I guess. Wrinkles are far scarier than cancer, right? [Note: that was sarcasm]

This is a monumental discovery and could prevent millions of people from the harmful effects of tanning. Even more, just knowing the importance people place on their looks, these findings could save people from other less-than-healthy habits. Unprotected sex? Stop teaching abstinence and just show those people what a pregnant belly looks like. And binge drinking? Scary stats and facts won’t work; just show them what they look like when they’re tearing up the dance floor, 3 sheets to the wind.

Seriously, this study can change the world.

With word that the fun-loving, tan-tastic kids of MTV’s ‘Jersey Shore’ are renegotiating their contracts so that they earn $10,000 per episode in a new season, a few thoughts went through our mind. Firstly: Damn, that’s a lot of money (though with their ratings, we say they deserve it whether they’re buffoons or not). And secondly … what could/should they buy with their newfound wealth?

So, we broke down what could be purchased with one episode’s paycheck ($10k), including some recommendations we think would benefit their next summer in Seaside Heights.

4
‘The Situation’ and pals could each buy four tanning beds @ $2,399 (with extra coin left over for tanning oil, to boot). All those trips to the tanning salon could be finito … and your very own personal tanning booth would only cost you 1/4 of an episode. Orange happiness is abundant.

13,333
Putting the L in GTL, laundry is perhaps the most essential part of maintaining maximum club freshness. The ‘JS’ crew could do 13,333 loads of laundry @ $0.75 per wash with their new salary. If only they made Drakkar Noir scented fabric softener.

What else should our favorite Juice Heads buy? Find out at Popeater.com!

]]> http://collegecandy.com/2010/01/28/from-popeater-how-the-jersey-shore-cast-should-spend-their-money/feed/ 0 ccandystaff popeater js intro http://collegecandy.com/2009/05/18/body-blog-save-your-skin/ http://collegecandy.com/2009/05/18/body-blog-save-your-skin/#comments Mon, 18 May 2009 15:00:32 +0000 Blair - Gettysburg College http://collegecandy.com/?p=29901 ]]>

Back in the day when Speedo one-pieces were cool, I had no interest in tanning. Although I fought through “sunscreen smear down” sessions with my mom, my skin was still, for the most part, shielded from the sun all summer long. It wasn’t until my friends started wearing bikinis and lots of Hawaiian tropic, that my Irish complexion got it’s first taste of sunburn. I quickly realized that getting the perfect tan wasn’t really in the cards for me…well unless I wanted to look like a leather handbag years later.

It’s scary how many times my skin has peeled, even blistered. I’ve accumulated many freckles, and one of them could easily be cancerous. At least that’s what I hear. Freckles appearing after a sunburn have been associated with an increased risk of melanoma skin cancer – the fatal kind. And even worse, it’s been estimated that nearly half of all Americans who live to age 65 will develop skin cancer at least once, according to MedicineNet.com.

Clearly we are all guilty of neglecting our skin for vanity’s sake. I mean, who doesn’t enjoy that bronzed glow? But ten, fifteen years from now, we’ll be kicking ourselves when the wrinkles, blotchy sun spots or melanoma develop.

So what can we do now to prevent further sun damage?

1. Always wear sunscreen, SPF 15 or higher, and reapply every 2 hours. Those of us who are fair-skinned, freckled, red-headed and blue-eyed really need to pay attention to this one since we are at more risk that our dark-skinned counterparts.
2. No more tanning beds. You know why!
3. Examine yourself regularly for abnormal skin growths or changes in existing moles and freckles. Self-examination can ensure an early detection of skin cancer.
4. Visit your dermatologist. It is recommended that everyone get a clinical skin exam annually, especially if you spot a new lump or mole.

I hate being a Debbie-downer before summer, but we need save our skin. So wear a higher SPF, go the self-tanning route — anything to keep that precious epidermis young and healthy.

For more information on skin cancer symptoms, please visit www.skincancer.org.

Love it: I love the idea of being bronzed all over without having to deal with sun damage and future wrinkles, or even worse, cancer. It’s awesome that cosmetic companies have come up with so many different ways to fake a tan without harming your skin in the sun, or even worse, in a tanning bed. It’s so easy to just slather on your favorite sunless tanning lotion after a shower. Plus, most of them have a delicious summer-y smell. Mmmmmmm!

Loathe it: I remember back in high school, my friend Jamie’s skin started turning yellow. None of my friends could figure out why. We assumed it had to do with her eating habits, or that she just had a weird rash– we even called her “Jaundice Jamie!” When we finally realized her sunless tanning cream was causing her yellow tinted “glow,” we couldn’t help but laugh. While it was sort of hysterical to laugh at someone else’s sunless tanning disaster, no one really wants to live that on their own. Why is it so difficult to get an even tan? I read article after article in fashion magazine about how to apply the stuff, yet my tan still comes out streaky! There has to be a better way.

So ladies- what do you think? Should I go the sunless tanning route and risk the streak factor, or embrace my perfect porcelain skin? Help – I’m totally torn!

It sucks listening to everyone talk about their plans, but it will suck more when they all come back with sweet beach tans, and I, well, still glow in the dark. Seriously, the other day my best friend called me pasty (harsh, but true).

And this, my friends, is why I am looking for a bottled glow.

Tanning beds scare me with their cancerous connotations. Spray tans scare me too; I don’t want to look like I have a bad case of Lindsey Lohan. So I am going to suggest to you some of the best self tanners out there. I know – self-tanners sound pretty intimidating as well. I will admit I had a horror story experience with one in the 8th grade. Here’s me, so excited to wear my new green halter top, turned totally orange, passed my crush walking down the street. Ultimate humiliation. But, don’t let that turn you off of self tanners! That situation was caused by a serious lack of knowledge about what I was doing or what kind of product to use.

The great thing about the products below is that while they are not an instant bronze color, they will gradually give you a natural looking, healthy tanned glow. Hopefully this will help you keep up with your Spring Breakin’ roommates without coming back to campus looking like the orange eighth grade version of me.

Sephora Brand Body Self-Tanning Tinted Bronzing Mist: This gradual bronzer comes in a can, which is great for applying! You don’t end up with gross colored hands, and the spray comes out evenly on your body. It’s light and airy, unlike chunky lotion and also smells great. It may take a little while to achieve the color that you want, but it won’t streak!

Jergens Natural Glow Body Moisturizer: The word natural is even in the title, and that’s exactly what this moisturizer is. It comes in several shades, and you will see a difference in just 3 days. Exfoliate before use so the moisturizer will sit well on your skin. It includes the same moisturizing ingredients as regular Jergens so there are no harsh chemicals, unlike those nasty tanning beds!

Dove Energy Glow Beauty Body Lotion: Like Jergens, this is a moisturizing lotion that comes in two shades. It will even out your skin tone and create a gradual glow so it looks like you have been basking in the sun, without becoming a lobster. And as a bonus, it’s super cheap and can be found at any drugstore, just like Jergens.

Michael Kors Leg Shine: This product comes in a convenient stick for arms and legs and creates a subtly natural glow so you get perfect shimmering tanned legs. And it is scented just like Michael perfume. Pretty impossible to mess this up!

MTV continues to kill the music

Angelina Jolie DOES NOT AGE

Aww…Has Been’s in love!

Keep his lingerie?

Would you wear Avril?  Yeah, me neither.  But Tokyo would!

Mmmm, Kool-Aid

Sarah Palin lovvvveesss her tanning bed

Tina Fey is “sexist!”

The infamous Cat Rap

Megan Fox tells Miley and Vanessa “F*ck Disney“

Carry your “toys” in style...

My Dinner with OJ

Reality show meets real life, people. You can walk into their store and onto their set simultaneously.

Nick D’Anna, a member of the cast, answered some questions for me about the show.

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH THE SHOW?

“The show was brought to us by E!…” Nick explained. He went on to say that the owner of the place was interviewed and E! loved him…then they decided to interview the people who worked there and it took off from there.

IS THERE A STIGMA ATTACHED TO BEING ON THE SHOW?

“Sure. People think it’s fake or that we’re fame whores, but you can walk in any day and there we are…”

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON TANNING BEDS AND CANCER RISKS?

“I’ve always been a beach person and I’ve been golden brown. I never did much indoor tanning before…but really, anything can give you cancer. I think that anything in moderation is ok. But indoor tanning is not a huge part of my life.” Nick went on to explain that tanning while working at Sunset Tan is on par with eating Big Macs while working at McDonald’s.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’RE PORTRAYED ACCURATELY ON THE SHOW?

“I feel like I am because I don’t take too much bullsh*t. Ania gets a bad reputation, though. She’s actually very humble and she’s not a spoiled brat at all.”

HOW IS IT DATING ON CAMERA? (Nick and Ania are doing just that)

“It’s really difficult for both of us to date on camera. We have to take everything home. A lot of people don’t understand that the reality of the show can really screw with our real life at home.”

WHEN WAS THE FIRST TIME YOU WERE IN A TANNING BED?

“In my hometown….I looked like a lobster!” Nick says that he used to be really into surfing in Florida and had a tan line around his body suit and wanted to even it out. A friend convinced him to come to her tanning salon and even it all out and he came out fried and was in pain for six days.

DO YOU AND ANIA HAVE ANY OTHER PROJECTS GOING ON?

“I always wanted to do acting, but now, no. I wouldn’t want to have to kiss a girl or see Ania kiss a guy…even if it was fake. But Ania is working on her clothing line and she’s really talented with that. I am focusing on the company, we’re planning on having 500-1000 stores globally within 5 years, so there’s a lot of room for growth.”

Check out Season 2 of Sunset Tan on E! beginning in August.

The study used a testing tool to gauge the presence of a substance-related disorder to determine whether some college students could really be hooked on tanning, as if it was a drug or substance. 18% of the students who admitted to purposely tanning their skin scored positive on this test, indicating they could be addicted to UV light.

Our society tends to associate being bronzed with attractiveness, and I don’t know why that is. I have to admit that the tanner I am, the better I feel about myself. But I have to ask myself if it’ll be worth it in the long run. What do you think? Could you be a tan-o-holic?