(April 10, 2008) — It’s not every day that people hear one another call out, “Hey, I love that shade of orange on your face!” So why is it that many teenagers resort to fake tanning that leaves an orange tint to people’s natural skin, and lotions that leave a bright orange residue on the user’s hands? People tend to prefer a bronze-goddess look for special occasions such as spring break, senior prom and summer and go to great lengths to get the right shade of sexy. “I like when I go to parties in the summer, and the clothes just looks better because of my darker skin,” junior Noor Ghssoub said. Different students each have their own technique of getting their perfect, radiant look just in time for the summer. “I like to tan with body-oil and get really tan in the summertime,” Ghssoub said. Even male students prefer to have darker skin, and some just get the overly-sought look in their everyday activities. Junior Thomas Sarkisyan says he gets his tans during swim practice. “I get really tanned in just a few days of practice,” Sarkisyan said. However, with each way of tanning, students should practice safety precautions that will decrease their risk of skin damage. According to the Center for Disease Control, there are many simple ways to help prevent skin cancer and still get a healthy tan while having a good time. Modern day solutions to skin cancer and lobster-like burns from lying in the sun are as simple as wearing a hat, applying sunscreen before stepping outside, and protecting your eyes with sunglasses. For people with paler skin who do not enjoy days in the sun to get their sun-kissed skin, there are less drastic options than fake tanning in salons. Beauty product companies have created gradual tanning lotions that avoid streaks or unnatural orange skin. People with lighter skin who wish to follow trends can now have a can look forward brightly to the future as celebrities with lighter skin like Scarlet Johansen, Anne Hathaway and Tyson Ritter gradually become idolized by many students. There are several students at school who have a different negative view on tanning and its harmful effects as well. “I saw a TV show once where people said they felt like outcasts because they didn’t have tans, it was ridiculous,” junior Edlin Yousefi said. “I think people should be comfortable and be beautiful in the skin they were born in.”