TANNING MAY BE AN ADDICTION

If you’re hoping to extend your summer tan or get a jump start before your Labor Day getaway by using a tanning bed, you may want to think again. More than half of adults think a “base tan” is a healthy way to protect skin from sun damage, according to a recent survey by the American Academy of Dermatology. Not so! In fact, indoor tanning beds increase the melanoma risk up to 74% according to a study published in a journal from the American Association for Cancer Research. And the more time people spent on tanning beds, the higher the risk.

Melanoma is the fastest-growing cancer among Caucasian men and the second among Caucasian women. But most of us are ignoring that risk. The indoor tanning industry estimates that some 30 million Americans visit tanning salons each year. There is also evidence that tanning may may be addicting because it triggers the release of mood-boosting endorphins.