reprioritized what law is next to change. Cracking down on a legal age to tan, really? I’m sorry, but I feel that there are more important things to worry about.

According to research, teenagers are more susceptible to developing melanoma, because it is very dangerous and it easily spreads throughout the body and does not show signs. Policy makers suggested stopping the use of tanning beds for teenagers and young adults; basically, they want to stop the additional sunlight exposure.

Let’s be honest here; it is nearly impossible to stop people from doing something that is so abundant. What we mean is that the sun is literally everywhere. Even if tanning beds are banned, we are still exposed to the sun and its UV rays all year, no matter what the temperature. According to American Academy of Dermatology, no matter what the temperature, no matter how cloudy or sunny it may be, no matter if it’s raining or snowing, there are always dangerous UVA and UVB rays outside that our skin is exposed to. What do you want us to do, cover ourselves from head to toe in the scorching heat during the whole summer? Or maybe we should all become nocturnal and worship the moon!

The American Cancer Society has recommended for a long time now that we should all limit our exposure to the sun between the hours of ten o’clock in the morning and four o’clock in the afternoon. Ten bucks says that the government passes another unnecessary law and we all start getting ticketed if we go outside during that time.

“It isn’t up to the government to decide what is right and wrong for my child,” stated Rita Buss, mother of three. “I think if my daughter wants to tan, she can tan. It’s my decision, nobody else’s. Same goes for all other kids, too. If you’re under 18 and want to tan indoors, you need parent consent to do so. All parents know what they are getting themselves into.”

UVB rays are necessary for the production of vitamin D, a vitamin that is crucial in one’s body. Vitamin D deficiency has also been linked to many health problems.

According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, a physician featured in Time magazine, CNN and Fox News, everything is good in moderation. For example, excessive jogging can be harmful to joints and ligaments, especially in your knees. But jogging every so often is very beneficial. The same goes for the consumption of proteins. Getting your daily dose is recommended, but too much can lead to kidney damage. This applies to tanning as well. The body needs the UVB rays to produce a healthy level of vitamin D, but like anything else, prolonged exposure is dangerous.

As long as the exposure isn’t over the top, tanning isn’t something that needs to be eliminated for teenagers and young adults. If anything, our parents know what’s best for us. If my mom says it’s okay, I think I’ll be fine.