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Tanning Mom Turns Over New Leaf; Promotes Skin Care

Updated: Friday, September 21 2012, 04:37 AM CDT
Patricia Krentcil, the dubbed tanning mom, says all she relies on now is a little self tanner. She admits in the pas she tanned a little too much.

"I guess I was kinda hooked, it was, it was fun," says Krentcil. She says she grew up watching her dad tan. Then tanning became a social break for the mother of five.

"It was my outlet, it was my outlet to see my friends, but instead of lying in the sun, I would go to tan, I bought a month pass, it was cheaper."

Last May, Krentcil was charged with child endangerment when her 6-year-old daughter Anna went to school with sunburn and told the school nurse she been tanning with mommy. Krentcil insists Anna never entered the booth.


"I would never do that, never, never; it’s ridiculous to even think it."

Krentcil was dubbed tanning mom after the incident. Her appearance spawned a tanorexic doll, television spoofs and constant media attention.

"I went to Starbucks they had to call the cops to get them away from me, I couldn't go anywhere." She says the pressure and ridicule became unbearable.

"It affected me a lot, I lost weight, I couldn't eat right, I couldn't sleep, at all."

Now she's trying to put a positive spin on her reputation. She's promoting a book that teaches women how to care for their skin without spending a ton of money. The book is called The Skin Regime by Dana Ramos.

"This teaches you how to care for your skin safely." Part of the proceeds will go to skin care foundation. Krentcil says she's made some nice money, but says she's also made a difference. Local groups have begun to push for stricter tanning laws for teen and she supports that.

"Now there are signs nobody over a certain age can go in, no kids allowed in the salons, because of me."Tanning Mom Turns Over New Leaf; Promotes Skin Care