There are many cosmetic uses for tanning and many people lay under the rays to look darker, but there are also people who tan for medical reasons.

Tanning is caused by ultraviolet or UV radiation hitting the body and penetrating into the dermal layer of skin. Limited exposure causes skin to darken or tan. According the Elizabeth Carruth of Vanderbilt, tanning beds and sun lamps generally only give off 93%-99% of UVA radiation, which increases the benefits of a tan. This percentage is three times the radiation given off by the sun.

For some people however the results are much more then darker skin, they can be medical. Cari Melkonian owns Caramel's Tanning Salon and has battled depression. She explains why tanning is just what the doctor prescribed.

"They tried me on this, that and every other anti-depressant and I felt like I was being tranquilized and I hated that feeling. So I went back to the doctor and the doctor just leaned back and said "Cari go try tanning" I went that Saturday." She noticed immediate results "I never needed another anti-depressant". However she does warn against tanning too often.

"Just once a week, it's all you need".

While UV rays have been associated with increased risks of skin cancer, major scientific and medical organizations have concurred and recommend limiting your exposure to UV rays both from natural sunlight and tanning booths, according to the Health Physics Society.

Dr. Steven Feldman of Wake Forest University School of Medicine told Sun Wellness Magazine in 2004 that like many other things, excess tanning is bad but that UV radiation has complex effects including some in the brain.

Just how UV radiation relaxes people is still a mystery, the suspected reason is that UV rays trigger the skin to produce endorphins, a substance in the brain that is associated with pleasure.

News7's Nadine Grimley brings us to the tanning salon.