As students roll into the

coldest months of the year,

many long for summer days. A

national glowing craze allows

students to experience a taste of

the warmer and brighter atmosphere.

“I go tanning because it

makes me feel better about

myself, and it reminds me of

summer,” said senior Ashlee

Armstrong.

Many students flock to popular

tanning salons in the area.

Regular beds at Sunkissed in

Chelmsford and East Coast Tan

in Tyngsborough cost five dollars

a session. However, power beds

that allow deeper developments

of tanning run around 14 dollars.

Package deals can be purchased

for unlimited tanning for a certain

amount of months.

“I really like Sunkissed tanning

salon. It is a nice, clean

atmosphere,” said senior Jen

Allen.

Many students go tanning

on a regular basis while others

go for special occasions such as

semiformal dances and Prom.

“My dad owned a salon, so

I’ve been going regularly since

I was really young,” said senior

Alex Pagliuca.

Another alternative at East

Coast Tan gives a summer

glow without the danger of skin

cancer: spray tanning. Spray

tanning includes a solution that is

sprayed onto the skin to develop

color.

“A lot of people don’t like

spray-on tanning because it can

come out uneven, but I really

like it. If you do what the

instructions tell you to do, and

wipe your skin down thoroughly

after you’re done, you won’t

have streaks,” said senior Aoife

O’Meara.

Although many students

continue to tan, it is important to

know the warning signs of cancer.

According to the American

Cancer Association, melanoma

and other skin cancers can be detected

by birth marks that change

coloration, shape, or locations.

If you see any of these signs, get

them checked immediately by a

doctor.