Even though some health officials have said indoor tanning is unhealthy, many Iowa State students choose the ‘fake bake’ alternative to stay tan year-long.

“It makes me feel better and it gives me a little color,” ISU senior Cassie Herkenrath said. “When I went on spring break was when I definitely did more tanning.”

Herkenrath has heard all the negative publicity about indoor tanning, but she disregards the news because she said she is not addicted to keeping a deep-dark tan.

“I hear everything, but I don’t go three times a week or every day,” she said. “I don’t consider myself an addict to tanning.”

Herkenrath, an exercise science major, said one of the reasons she continues to tan is probably that there are not any posters or advertisements on television about indoor tanning.

According to a recent report by “Dateline NBC,” there were several tanning salons that were involved in unsafe practices. Jill Reid, owner of The 5th Season at 2540 Lincoln Way, said she felt the report was slanted incredibly toward the anti-tanning side.

“These people that NBC interviewed were ignorant,” Reid said. She recalled one person telling the television reporter that he would recommend taking antibiotics in order to get a better tan.

“If any of my employees did anything like that, they would be gone immediately,” she said.

Reid said her tanning beds have 30-minute timers and patrons can choose from one minute up to the half-hour limit.

“We’re not here to burn anyone,” she said. “If someone has fair skin, I may start them out with an eight to 10-minute session. You’re not going to go in for a 20-minute session” in the beginning.

Reid said sitting in a tanning bed for 20 minutes is similar to being in the sun for about an hour.

Most people understand ultraviolet rays emitted from the sun can be very damaging, but Reid said people in her store do not get the UVC or cancer-causing rays.

“In here, you’re only getting about five percent UVB and 95 percent UVA.” That may be a reason to tan indoors for some people, but the main reason is for the darker appearance and tranquility.

Jill Lyons, senior in psychology, said she enjoys indoor tanning because it is relaxing.

“You’re lying there with your eyes closed and you sweat your stress away,” she said. “A lot of people ‘fake bake’ because they want to look good.”

Molly Steffen, a senior studying psychology, said many students do it to feel better.

“It covers up a lot of flaws,” she said, “but the ones who come out orange…I can’t speak for them.”

Lyons, who works at Video Palace, said everyone has to wear protective eye wear. This was reiterated by Reid at her tanning salon.

“We use all the recommended cleaners for the beds and we clean them after each person finishes,” Reid said.