The scent of cocoa butter greets customers as they enter Tanfastique for the chance to turn their pasty skin into a golden tan.

Owner Ron Halanslovan said the salon, located at 159 S. Garner St., is busiest before and after spring break, when college students and locals prepare for vacations in warmer climates.

He added many times people use the beds prevent getting sunburn when they are outside during their vacations.

"They come here to start a base tan and then they do not burn as bad," Halanslovan said.

Dermatology experts disagree with the notion that using tanning beds is a safe alternative to roasting in the sun.

Diane Thiboutot, a staff physician in the department of dermatology at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, said that the UVA radiation used in tanning beds can still cause skin cancer. She added that even though a person might not burn as readily, the radiation still contributes to aging and toughening of the skin.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology's Web site (www.aad.org), there are two types of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which affect the layers of the skin.

UVB rays are shorter in wavelength and affect the upper layer of the skin the most, causing sunburn.

Longer UVA waves penetrate deeper into the epidermis, damaging the skin more extensively and contributing to the risk of melanoma. The National Cancer Institute's Web site (nci.nih.gov) said that using tanning device significantly increases the risk of basal cell and squamous cell forms of skin cancer.

A study conducted by the AAD found that 95 percent of indoor tanning salons use UVA radiation.

Even with the inherent risk, salon owners maintain using the beds is safer, if not more beneficial, than tanning outside.

"There is no such thing as a safe tan," said Billy Blades, owner of the hair and tanning salon Billy Blades, 212 S. Allen St. "Given the choice to tan indoors or out, I would tan indoors because it is more controlled."

Halanslovan said the amount of time customers spend in tanning beds is limited depending on their skin type and how often they use the beds. He added that 20 minutes is the maximum amount of time anyone is permitted to stay in the beds.

In addition to monitoring how long customers stay in the bed, Halanslovan said he provides protective eye-wear to prevent UV rays from entering the eyes, and he also disinfects the beds between users.

Some users of tanning beds say that there are health benefits to tanning, outside of establishing a base tan.

Kim Michna (sophomore-horticulture) frequents Tanfastique because of a syndrome called Seasonal Affective Disorder. Michna called SAD the "winter blues" that result from less exposure to sunlight during winter months.

She added that her symptoms are depression and lethargy, and that substituting the sun with the tanning beds has been beneficial. Another reason people cite for using tanning beds is to treat skin disorders such as eczema and psoriasis, both which cause skin inflammation and scaling. Thomas Davidowski, a doctor of dermatology said that treating psoriasis with UV light is used only as a last resort and only under controlled conditions.

"We are not in favor of people using tanning beds," Davidowski said.

He also suggested that instead of a person damaging his or her skin using a tanning bed using sunscreen appropriately would create a base.

Dematologists such as Davidowski have known for quite some time that tanning beds can cause cancer. He said that even with warnings about the carcinogenic nature of tanning beds, people continue to tan indoors.

"We see people in their late 20s and 30s coming in with skin cancer, who said they used tanning beds when they were younger," Thiboutot said.

The Skin Cancer Foundation Web site (www.skincancer.org) said that 28 million Americans use tanning salons each year. Doctors associated with the NSCF want to regulate salons by making them screen customers for health histories, prohibit anyone under the age of 18 to use beds, and provide protective eyewear.

Despite warnings about tanning and cancer, students still frequent local tanning salons.

Carol Healy (freshman-communications) said that Tanfastique, where she tans, is always packed.

She added that she only used tanning beds before summer and spring break in order to get a base tan.

"I'm not paying for cancer," Healy said.