A Penn State professor is conducting a study to find out why basking in ultraviolet rays when there's two feet of snow outside remains popular with college-aged women, despite the projected risks of using tanning beds.

Rob Turrisi, Penn State professor of biobehavioral health and member of the Prevention Research Center, has organized Project SHINE to better understand reasons why many continue to ignore the risks.

"The typical student has a lot of stress, and I can imagine it would be nice to have 15 minutes to yourself. Especially when it is reinforced by people telling you that you look good afterwards," Turrisi said.

However, hectic schedules or not, the Federal Trade Commission warns the public about risks regarding overexposure to ultraviolet rays, including eye injury, premature wrinkling of the skin, light-induced rashes and the increase of skin cancer.

According to a 2002 study at Dartmouth Medical School, tanning device users had 1.5 times the risk of basal cell carcinoma and 2.5 times the risk of squamous cell carcinoma, the most common forms of skin cancer.

Many students in State College are heading to Hollywood Tans, 111 W. Beaver Ave., to obtain that "healthy" glow.

This year more than 1,000 people have signed up for the three-month unlimited membership, and eager tanners often wait up to 40 minutes for their time under the lights.

Hollywood Tans employee Kerry McAndress (junior-marketing) said there are precautions taken to make tanning safer.

"[Tanning] is basically the equivalent of being in the sun; it would be like if you lived in California," McAndress said.

McAndress added that she thinks people can become addicted to tanning, and there are people who go every day, which she views as excessive.

As stated on the Hollywood Tans Web site, once a base tan is established, someone would only have to go two or three times a month to maintain a tan.

The most convincing benefit is the positive effect tanning has shown in treating psoriasis, said Brittany Ramsey (senior-human development and family studies). She said she goes tanning every other day.

"I have more to gain from tanning. It clears [psoriasis] up when most prescriptions don't," Ramsey said.

Yet she also said she probably wouldn't go tanning if she did not have psoriasis.

Maria Rossi (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) said she tans because it breaks up the monotony of her day and is good for relaxation.

"I don't think it's really bad unless you repeatedly burn; the only thing you have to worry about is your skin aging," Rossi said.

These are the kinds of opinions that are being considered in Project SHINE to gain insight into the reasons behind indoor tanning.

"Ultimately, it comes down to choices," Turrisi said. "It's better if people know trade-offs and can make informed choices."