That’s the motto Alison Kirkpatrick, 15, uses when she talks about her tanning regimen at SunSations Tanning, 1551 Indian Hills Drive.

“I will come twice a week for 12 minutes to maintain my tan,” she explained.

The teenager has her parents looking over her shoulder with her tan frequency, as Mark and Gayle Kirkpatrick own the salon.

Gayle said there are many restrictions that come with teenage tanning.

“Absolutely no one 13 and under will be allowed to tan, even with a parent’s signature,” she said. “And 14 to 16 year olds must have parental permission.”

Even that endorsement has restrictions, Gayle noted.

“The teenager has to bring the parent and they sign the form in front of us,” she said. “There is none of that, take the form home and come back with a signature.”

Most of Alison’s friends use a tanning salon, whether it’s getting ready for the homecoming, prom, or other dances.

“But they’re smart about it,” said West High’s second student. “They know how to cover their eyes. They also know how to use lotion to keep their skin from drying out.”

The United States Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission are government agencies that implement and enforce laws and policies regarding skin tanning establishments. Iowa is one of a handful of states that actively pursue and implement tanning laws and regulations.