Spring break is supposed to be fun. But for those headed to sunny destinations and worried about looking good in bikinis or swim trunks, preparing for spring break can be stressful and bad for their health.

Paul Rudnicki, the owner and manager of Sandy Beaches in Norman, said people should start tanning a month before spring break to achieve a desirable tan. He said the number of customers at Sandy Beaches has already begun to increase.

Right now, we have almost 400 people coming in every day, and usually its 200 to 225, Rudnicki said.

He said business will increase consistently until spring break, then drop off slightly to about 300 customers a day.

About two weeks before [spring break] itll be pretty crazy, and people may have to wait 20 to 30 minutes for an available bed, Rudnicki said.

Rudnicki said tanning before a trip is necessary in order to help protect against sun-related discomfort on vacation.

You want some kind of base before you go somewhere sunny, or youll be miserable, red and burnt, he said.

He recommends tanning for 20 minutes, three or four times a week, for at least two weeks prior to a vacation.

But the American Academy of Dermatology has published studies indicating that even moderate indoor tanning can cause permanent skin damage that might lead to skin cancer.

The Academy estimates that 47,700 new cases of melanoma will be diagnosed in America this year and 7,700 Americans will die from the disease, a form of skin cancer caused by exposure to UV radiation.

Rudnicki said people who tan at Sandy Beaches sign a waiver indicating that they know UV exposure increases their risk of developing skin cancer and that they are instructed not to tan if they are taking certain medications.

There are about 10 points [on the waiver] that break [the dangers posed by tanning] down, Rudnicki said. Even if someone tries to look over it, we encourage them to read over it before they go on.

For students reluctant to expose themselves to UV rays, At the Beach offers a UV-free Mystic Tan tanning booth, said Lissa Jackson, the store manager.

Mystic Tan works by spraying a fine mist through a series of jets within the booth. The spray dries in a few minutes. Color gradually appears within four hours and lasts for a week, although Jackson suggests that beginners tan two to three times their first week.

Mystic Tanners need to be aware of the fact that Mystic Tan provides the illusion of a bronze tan but does not actually protect the skin from burning during sun exposure. Jackson said it is important for Mystic Tan users to use sun block liberally.



hello there & you too