Seattle, notorious for its gray skies and lack of sunlight for much of the year, is not a conducive location to maintaining a year-round tan, yet the UW touts many bronzed students, even in the height of winter.

Along with white teeth and a lean physique, a tan has long been prized and regarded as an important element of the American ideal standards of beauty. Many people say they feel healthier and more attractive with bronzed skin, and the numbers reflect this: Today, the indoor-tanning industry rakes in a hefty $5 billion annually.

Indoor tanning is particularly popular among younger women, especially college-aged females between 18 and 24 years old. Bronz Tanning Salon employee Jennifer Nausin said the U-District’s college-aged population has contributed to the salon’s continued success since the store opened last November.

“I’d say college students are the best demographic for tanning salons,” Nausin said. “They’re young, but many have part-time jobs, so they have extra money but without dependents or families to support. They can afford to be more concerned with it.”

Tanning is, of course, controversial because of the apparent link between exposure to UV (ultraviolet) rays and skin cancer. However, Nausin said that Bronz abides by the Indoor Tanning Association’s guidelines for sun exposure, which stresses moderation as the key to safety.

“What we aim to do is provide our customers with a safe and controlled environment in which to receive sun exposure,” Nausin said. “When a new customer comes in, we work with them very carefully, starting them at a very low level and gradually helping them build up and establish a base tan. What we mean by moderation is avoiding sunburn at all costs.”

Nausin stressed the benefits of indoor tanning, including how it’s a way to receive vitamin D, a nutrient often lacking in sun-starved Seattleites.

“We’re all about providing people with a safe way to get their vitamin D,” she said.

Senior Stacie Stump echoed this opinion and said that living in Seattle makes it hard to get enough vitamin D. At the same time, health concerns about tanning make her question whether it’s the best way to get it.

“I feel like there are better ways to do it than risking skin cancer,” Stump said.

Stump said she used to visit tanning beds on a regular basis for almost six years, but she stopped going about a year ago because she became concerned about the health repercussions. Now, she spray tans instead and feels the tan she gets looks just as real as one from a tanning bed.

“Spray tanning works just as well and looks just as good as regular tanning,” Stump said. “Yes, they’re a little more expensive, and you have to go every week or two if you want them to last, but that’s a small price to pay for your health and peace of mind.”

According to the Mayo Clinic’s Web site, the concept of a “base tan” touted by the Indoor Tanning Association is a myth.

“Many people go to tanning salons to get a so-called ‘base tan’ before leaving on a beach vacation,” Mayo Clinic’s resident dermatologist Dr. Lawrence Gibson said on the Web site. “The theory behind this is a few sessions of indoor tanning will protect your skin from sunburn in a sunny climate. But there’s no proof this is true.”

Furthermore, Gibson said that a tan is actually a sign of skin damage that has already occurred.

“Any change in skin color is a sign of damage from UV radiation,” he said. “Repeated exposure to UV radiation — whether from the sun or a sunlamp — increases your risk of premature aging and skin cancer. The best way to protect your skin from the sun — at the beach and at home — is to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or above.”

Reach reporter Katie Paff at specials@dailyuw.com.