Tanning is your skins reaction to UV light, however, it does not prevent skin cancer. Aging Rays - The UVA rays penetrate the skin deeply, all the way to the dermis and causes fine lines and wrinkles, or aging of the skin. UVB can cause these cells to become cancerous and potentially malignant leading to death. Approximately 8000 deaths per year are from malignant melanoma. The total amount of sun received over the years and episodes of intense sun, including sunburn increases your risk of skin damage leading to skin cancer.
Children are particularly at risk for getting too much sun and ultraviolet exposure.
Since the sun you get while you are a child can affect you when you are an adult, it is critical to protect our children from the sun's harmful rays using adequate sun block. Heredity and Environment also is involved in the skin cancer equation. Fair skinned people have a higher risk as their natural protection is minimal. The Ozone layer, which filters out UV radiation, is thinning allowing more UV radiation through to the earth. UV light is stronger as altitude increases due to less atmospheric protection.