With spring break around the corner, Ames tanning beds have been overflowing with ISU students preparing for their sunny vacation spots.

Kristy Smith, employee at the Tanning Zone, 2540 Lincoln Way, said the weeks before spring break are the busiest tanning season.

“We’ve have had about a 100 percent increase in customer flow,” said Smith, senior in management information systems. “We’re completely full.”

Smith said the Tanning Zone can take 216 appointments in a day, 32 in the high-pressure beds and 184 in the low-pressure beds. All appointments are full this time of the year.

“Our high-pressure beds, which provide safer and faster tanning, generally fill up three days in advance. The low-pressure beds usually fill up that day,” she said.

Smith expects the high volume of tanners to drop off when classes resume.

“I think people get tired of tanning after awhile — it becomes a hassle. That’s why they quit after break. They’ve already got their base tan. And after spring break, the funds are low and summer is on the way,” Smith said.

Tracy Fisher, employee at The Video Place, 822 Wheeler St., which also offers tanning, said she has seen a strong increase in clients there also. Fisher said there are a number of reasons a person tans, but one of the most popular ones is a sense of self-confidence.

“[People tan] because they think they won’t get as burnt when they have a base tan, and they also do it to feel more comfortable in their bathing suit,” she said.

Luella Gustafson, owner of Electric Beach, 809 Wheeler St., said tanning needs to be done responsibly.

“The worst thing I can hear is ‘I got burnt’ because it’s damage. Overexposure is never good,” Gustafson said. “People don’t understand the tanning process if they say they need to burn [in order] to tan. That’s not smart tanning.”

Gustafson said she’s strict about the tanning that goes on in her establishment.

“The damage people can do to their eyes from not wearing their eye wear can be immediate or slow and cumulative. That’s why we’re so strict about seeing [our clients’] eye wear before they go in [to tan],” she said.

Andrew Hinnah, junior in animal science, said he’s tanning for spring break.

“I’m doing it so I don’t have to walk around all pale in Cancun. It’s a good thing,” Hinnah said.

Stacy Carriker, junior in management information systems, said she tans for a couple of reasons.

“I find the 20 minutes I spend in the tanning bed gives me a break from the stresses of my week. It’s like 20 minutes to myself without having to worry about anything else. And I like the effects,” Carriker said.

However, the possible adverse effects of tanning can’t be ignored, said Carla Dornsbach, temporary instructor in health and human performance.

“In general, tanning is negative because it puts you at risk for skin cancer. You’re killing skin cells and increasing your chance for both disease and wrinkles,” she said.

Dornsbach said the desired effects of tanning are not permanent.

“People do it to look good, but in fact it’s harmful to both your appearance and your health,” she said. “And the leather look is not in.”