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Teens and Tanning Beds: A Short Cut to Cancer?

Spring Break Season is  upon us and to get ready for it millions of young women head to the indoor tanning salon.

But do they realize that they may be paying for that tan with their lives?

Over 35% of 17 year olds have done indoor tanning in the past year and the use of indoor tanning beds is believed by many experts to account for the alarming rise of skin cancer rates among the young. This increase in skin cancer has prompted the FDA to ban indoor tanning for anyone under the age of 18 without parental consent. And the American Academy of Pediatrics is recommending a total ban on any indoor tanning use by minors.

Some statistics you need to know to keep your teen safe:

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S.

Some of the powerful tanning units deliver UV exposure 15 times more powerful than midday sun.

The use of tanning beds before the age of 30 increases the chance of getting melanoma, the deadliest kind, by over 75%.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in 25-29 year olds.

15 minutes in a tanning bed deliver as much dangerous rays as 15 minutes in a Mediterranean summer sun.

Parents need to educate their teens about the dangers of indoor tanning and its potentially damaging effects.

And with so many great self tanners on the market, there are lots of ways to get a safe, risk free glow.