In preparation for summer, students can be spotted at the gym hammering down on the elliptical machines and lifting those twenty-five-pound weights in hopes of trimming down and building those coveted lean arm and leg muscles before shimmying into their swimsuits.

And to accentuate their sculpted bodies, many students spend hours to get a bronzed summer look. Yet tanning, whether indoors at a tanning salon or outdoors under the sun, can put one at risk for dangerous skin cancers. In order to avoid these risks, some students are turning to Ultraiviolet or UV free tanning options such as Mystic Tan.

For those who choose the most natural and inexpensive way to get a tan, sunbathing is a popular option. Freshman Mallory Bounds is one of Stanford's frequent sunbathers.

"I'm definitely envious of people with nice tans," said Bounds. "Unfortunately for me, I was born really white, so in the summertime I like to get as much sun as possible."

Bounds said she enjoys spending time outside whether or not she is sunbathing.

"I enjoy the sun," she said. "Sometimes I go out in pants and a shirt, rather than a bathing suit, just for that aspect. But the darker color is definitely the goal I have in mind."

For those who don't have the time to soak up the sun for hours, a trip to the nearest tanning salon for instant color is an alternative option.

Yet indoor tanning<\p>--<\p>or outdoor tanning, for that matter<\p>--<\p>has not been deemed safe. Research by the Skin Cancer Foundation has found that 90 percent of these cancers are caused by exposure to dangerous UV rays emitted by the sun or the beams of indoor tanning booths. In its position statement on indoor tanning, the American Academy of Dermatology Association, or AADA, opposes indoor tanning and calls for a ban on the sale and use of indoor tanning equipment for non-medical reasons.

According to the American Cancer Society, more than one million Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer each year. Melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, is projected to affect 59,580 Americans in 2005. It is the cause of three-quarters of all skin cancer-related deaths and kills more young women than any other cancer does.

Robyn Tepper, chief physician at Vaden Health Center, raises another concern for students who don't consider skin cancer a serious enough deterrent.

"For those who are young and think, 'Well, skin cancer only happens to older people,' a more immediate concern is aging," said Tepper. "Exposure to UV light ages your skin. Too much time in the sun has been shown to speed up the occurrence of blotchiness, sagging skin and wrinkles that are associated with aging."

UV rays are naturally emitted by the sun. The two most common forms of UV rays are UVA and UVB. UVA rays are of longer wavelength, so they penetrate deeper into the skin than do UVB rays. As UVA rays penetrate the skin, they start the production of melanin, the pigment that causes the skin to tan. This also makes UVA rays responsible for premature aging.

In contrast, UVB rays are of a relatively short wavelength. They touch mainly the outer layers of the skin and are responsible for sunburn. It is believed that overexposure to UVB rays are the main cause of skin cancer.

But according to Sharon Reyes, tanning specialist and owner of Ingrid's Suntanning in Palo Alto, indoor tanning is relatively safe.

"Indoor tanning is more controlled," said Reyes. "We know the percentage of UV rays you're getting and we never allow people to tan for the maximum amount of time allotted because the point is not to get sunburned."

Reyes' salon, however, is one of the many in the country that now offers Mystic Tan. The makers of Mystic Tan boast that their new tanning system avoids the risks of traditional sun tanning by being completely UV-free. The system is essentially a self-tanning mist that is applied to the skin while the tanner stands in a booth.

The bronzing solution contains aloe vera, dihydroxyacetone (DHA), and either a bronzing agent or clear "myst." A Food and Drug Administration or FDA-approved tanning agent, DHA acts as a color additive by reacting with proteins in the skin to give a darker tone lasts on average seven to 10 days, according to Reyes. It takes between two and four hours for the tan to become visible, but this wait can be expedited by the use of the bronzing additive.

The popularity of Mystic Tan is evident to Reyes, who sees between 25 and 30 customers a day in her tanning salon. Her salon carries two Mystic Tan booths and offers special packages to those who opt for the UV-free spray. An introductory session costs $25.

According to Tepper, Mystic Tan seems to be the healthiest choice for those who insist on tanning.

"It seems totally safe," Tepper said. "It's comparable to the over-the-counter tanning lotions that you find in drugstores. As long as it doesn't have ultraviolet in it, it's not harmful."

Some Stanford students find Mystic Tan a good option.

"I'm not so obsessed with sunbathing that I need to go to a tanning salon, but if I had a choice [between indoor tanning, sunbathing and Mystic Tan] I'd choose Mystic Tan," sophomore Annie Ta said.

"I would never do indoor tanning," added Bounds. "I've seen the pictures and heard the horror stories, but I would consider the spray on tan<\p>--<\p>either from a bottle or in a booth."

But while Mystic Tan is UV-free, safety is still a concern. The FDA recently issued a list of precautions to be taken before using DHA-based products. These precautions include covering the eyes, lips and nasal passages, and avoiding inhalation or ingestion of the compound.

Whichever option is chosen to tan, Tepper emphasized exercising caution<\p>--<\p>particularly with more traditional tanning options.

"Tanning can be dangerous," she said. "Tanning booths [those that use UV beams] are bad and if you go out in the sun, even wearing sunscreen isn't always effective."