Northeast Ohio usually has more cloudy days than most other places in the country, so why are Clevelanders so tan?

Ohio has the distinction of having the most tanning beds of any state, even California.

NewsChannel5's Barbara Meek has some On Your Side warnings about tanning beds.

Tanning salons are everywhere; in some places, every few blocks.

One, in particular, has been "around the block." Golden Glow in Fairlawn has been bronzing patrons for 17 years.

People want to tan comfortably and quickly.

"I think it has a lot to do with people's vanity, to a degree," Bill Whitt, owner of a tanning salon, said.

"It makes you feel a little bit better about yourself to have that base tan, and I always figure, I'll get the base tan and stop there, but it's kind of addicting," tanning bed user Tracy Jenkins said.

"And it's relaxing," tanning bed user Patrice Morrison said. "It's the only time I can actually relax and forget about everything."

But there is a dark side to tanning, WEWS reports. The ultraviolet light brings potential dangers.

Dermatologists, including Dr. Linda Alston, have warned all along that if your skin is tanned, your skin is damaged.

"They think they're healthier when they're tan," Alston said. "Unfortunately, the opposite is true. Ultraviolet light, whether it's from natural sunlight or a tanning bed, does depress your immune system."

Studies also show that the rate of melanoma -- the deadliest form of skin cancer -- has increased sevenfold since the advent of tanning beds.

"Dermatologists are always going to be out there thumping their chests about those things," Whitt said. "We have, over the years, (had) a couple of people I know who have come to me specifically to be exposed to ultraviolet light for skin conditions."

Most people, though, tan because it makes them feel good about themselves, WEWS reports. Morrison said that she does it for that reason, and has been tanning indoors twice a week for 30 years.

Each day, about 3,400 Ohioans visit a tanning bed.

Most tanning places will set guidelines on the amount of time that a person can tan on one visit. The maximum should be 30 minutes, WEWS reports.

If you're concerned about your exposure to ultraviolet light, the NewsChannel5 forecasters will soon be telling you each day about the UV index and how harmful the sun is to you.

The American Academy of Dermatology will be holding skin cancer screenings all over the country on May 5. The screening locations in the area have not yet been announced.