Question: I go to an indoor tanning salon and I was wondering how much it increases my risk of getting skin cancer.
Dr. Bruce Dan: No type of tanning is risk free be it outdoors in the sun or indoors in a tanning salon. Some tanning salons advertise that they don’t cause cancer, because they use long UVA rays that penetrate deep into the skin instead of the short UVB rays that burn the skin’s outer layer. But actually, exposure to any kind of UV light increases your chances of developing skin cancer. And tanning devices emit UVA rays that are far more intense than those received while sunbathing outdoors, even in the noonday sun. That’s particularly worrisome because recent studies indicate UVA rays may be a major culprit behind malignant melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer. If you still choose to go to a tanning salon, make sure that the booth has a timer that automatically shuts off the lights or signals you to get out. Also you should wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from UV damage. But remember, no matter what your friends tell you, or what the ads say, there is no such thing as a healthy tan.
