The month of April is cancer awareness month and the students of leadership and wellness at FHS has been trying to show teens how risky it can be. For example the students have set up a station in the cafeteria in which anyone can see how damaged their skin has gotten from the sun, and how much sun damage they really have. They are teaching the teens that go tanning often abbout a new condition called Tanorexia.

Tanorexia is a condition in which a person participates in excessive tanning to achieve a darker complexion because they perceive themselves as unacceptably pale. Some symptoms are intensive anxiety if a session of tanning is missed, competition among peers to see who can get the darkest, and chronic frustration. But there are many steps you can take to avoid becoming addicted to tanning and to protect yourself.

These are the Eight Steps of sun safety:
-Do not burn
-Avoid sun tanning and tanning beds
-Apply sunscreen often
-Wear protective clothing
-Seek shade
-Use extra caution near water, snow, and sand
-Get vitamin D safely

“I do care about the risks of tanning but I don’t do it a lot. And the reason I started tanning was for prom, and then senior banquet.” One FHS student, Hannah Minor talks about the reason she goes tanning.

“You can get skin cancer from anything really and i’m not a consistent tanner.” Said by Another student, Suzan Sullivan

“I quit but I did it because it was really relaxing.” Sarah Doak said her opinion on tanning.

All of the students know the risk of tanning but don’t realize what damage they are causing.

“We are particularly concerned about the tanning beds because if a person goes 8 or more times, the chance of you getting melanoma increases dramatically.” Mrs. Donovan explains her worries on tanning.

The best way to avoid any health risks is to stop tanning and to protect yourself from getting any sun damage.