A new report on Monday stated that with the rates of skin cancer rising, more than a quarter of white high school girls and close to a quarter of young adults use tanning salons.
The CDC says than 15 percent of these young women are using tanning salons 10 times or more a year, despite strong advice against doing so.
One major myth that young women and girls still believe, wrongly,is that they can get a “base” tan to protect themselves from burning. They are using the tanning salons more than just for dances and special occasions but as a monthly beauty routine.
While some states are considering legislation to limit the availability of tanning salons, the better long-term solution would be to change a culture that worships tanned skin, instead valuing a range of skin tones, the CDC says.
“We need to encourage young women to embrace their natural, untanned skin colors,” says Gery Guy of the CDC’s division of cancer control, who led the research HERE.
Do you tan or let your kids tan? Are you worried about skin cancer?
