When Does Indoor Tanning Go Too Far?

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By Jessica Gertler

Story Created: May 4, 2012 at 5:18 PM CDT

Story Updated: May 4, 2012 at 5:37 PM CDT

From the CBS 8 Troy Newsroom-- A story out of New Jersey about a mom allegedly taking her child into a tanning bed is sparking a lot of controversy. So we asked folks in a college town where the indoor tanning business is booming: when does tanning go too far? 

While Patricia Krentcil has told the media she's becoming a victim of a witch hunt, the handful of folks in Troy CBS 8 News spoke with say she's pushed the limits on indoor tanning and are even going as far to say she has an addiction. 

Just one glimpse at what people are calling the "New Jersey Tanning Mom," and it's left folks in disbelief.

Images of Krentcil have popped up across the nation after she plead not guilty earlier this week for endangerment charges for putting her 6-year-old in a tanning bed. And while that's shocking to some mothers.

"Why in the world would I put them in a tanning bed and risk anything further. Absolutely not. I think that's ridiculous," says Janie Tarwick, who refuses to let her children tan.

Others say it's Krentcil's complexion that's causing commotion. They say she's gone overboard with indoor tanning.

"I think it's really too far when you look dirty, and you start looking like to a point to like where it's like copper," says Gabby Cunningham, who goes indoor tanning.

Golden Bliss Tanning Manger Theresa Miller agrees. She says it's people like Krentcil who give indoor tanning a bad rep, and says moderation is key. Miller says if she had walked into her salon, she may have refused service.

"You can only tan once a day is our store policy. She was so dark, I probably would question her," she says. "She was probably going more than once a day or also using spray tan."

The tanning salon in New Jersey that Krentcil was going to says she was tanning about five days per week at the maximum time of 12 minutes. Folks we spoke with say that's just too much.

Krentcil's lawyer says he doesn't believe she's addicted to the tanning bed.

But do you think she's taken tanning too far? Head to the CBS 8 News Facebook Page, and let us know what you think.
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