Nearly 5 million people are treated for skin cancer each year in the United States. Skin cancer can be serious, expensive, and sometimes even deadly. Fortunately, most skin cancers can be prevented.
Stay Sun-Safe Outdoors
Limit UV Exposure: Discourage Indoor and Outdoor Tanning
Indoor and outdoor tanning often begin in the teen years and continue into adulthood. Don’t wait to teach your children about the dangers of tanning. Children may be more receptive than teens, so start the conversation early, before they start outdoor tanning or indoor tanning. For example, you can—
- Help preteens and teens understand the dangers of tanning so they can make healthy choices.
- Talk about avoiding tanning, especially before special events like homecoming, prom, or spring break.
- Discourage tanning, even if it’s just before one event like prom. UV exposure adds up over time. Every time you tan, you increase your risk of getting skin cancer.
Indoor tanning—
- Exposes users to intense levels of UV rays, a known cause of cancer.
- Does not offer protection against future sunburns. A “base tan” is actually a sign of skin damage.
- Can spread germs that can cause serious skin infections.
- Can lead to serious injury. Indoor tanning accidents and burns send more than 3,000 people to the emergency room each year.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration states that indoor tanning should not be used by anyone younger than age 18. Many states restrict the use of indoor tanning by minors. There’s no such thing as a safe tan.
Sources:
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/basic_info/sun-safety-tips-families.htm
Division of Cancer Prevention and Control - https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/dcpc/about/
