Contrary to the tanning industry’s claims, there is clear link between melanoma-the most serious form of skin cancer and one of the fastest growing cancers in the U.S.-and exposure to ultraviolet rays (UV) from natural or artificial sources (such as tanning beds). In fact, approximately 65 percent of melanomas are attributed to UV exposure. There are clear, evidence-based data demonstrating the harmful effects of UVA and UVB radiation, including its carcinogenic/mutagenic effects on DNA. The use of indoor tanning (outside of medical practice) represents one of the most striking examples of an avoidable cause of lethal cancer in man. A 2007 study found that individuals who had first used a tanning bed prior to age 35 had a 75 percent greater risk of developing melanoma.
