The FDA and the American Academy of Dermatology anticipate that approximately one million Americans will develop skin cancer each year. Apparently, there really is no such thing as a safe tan. This might even be counter- intuitive to all of us who for years considered a tan, not a burn, to be a sign of healthy living. For children, the sun's effects can be even more pronounced. There is good news to report, however.
Media campaigns seem to get the word out.
For a case in point, let's look to the land down under. The Council attributes the reduction to increased public awareness. An efficient way to reduce the risk of contracting skin cancer is to avoid exposure to the sun. Some experts also recommend that sun lamp exposure be minimized or avoided as well. It is the sun's ultraviolet radiation that causes short-term damage, in the form of sun tans and sun burns, and long term damage, in the form of sun cancer.