LOVE YOUR SKIN AS IT ALREADY IS. It’s never too late to stop tanning.
A safe UV tan doesn’t exist — intentionally tanned skin is actually the result of damage to skin cells. Too much ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or a tanning bed causes as much as 90% of melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer. A “base tan” does not provide adequate protection from additional UV exposure — sunburns can still happen. Using tanning beds before age 35 increases your chances of melanoma by 75%. The incidence of people under 30 developing melanoma is increasing faster than any other demographic group, soaring by 50% in women since 1980. Head and neck melanoma rates are increasing for males age 15–39. Males age 15–39 are 55% more likely to die of melanoma than females. It is important to do monthly self-skin checks, as well as get yearly skin checks by a dermatologist, especially if you have had sunburns in the past, to monitor your skin for anything that looks suspicious or has changed recently.
Visit melanoma.org for references and more information.
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