New York, NY (December 18, 2008) - On an average day, more than
one million Americans use tanning salons, which can lead to both
nonmelanoma and melanoma skin cancers. In an effort to reduce
this number, The Skin Cancer Foundation urges people to give up
tanning as a New Year's resolution. "Giving up tanning is as
important as eating better, exercising more, and quitting
smoking, which we know are the most popular resolutions," said
Perry Robins, MD, President of The Skin Cancer Foundation. "UV
radiation is a known carcinogen, just like cigarettes." People
who use tanning beds are 2.5 times more likely to develop
squamous cell carcinoma and 1.5 times more likely to develop
basal cell carcinoma. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most
common form of skin cancer and can be highly disfiguring.
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common form of
skin cancer and is more likely to metastasize and lead to death
if not caught early. And a recent study shows that people with a
history of nonmelanoma skin ca