But UVA rays in tanning beds can still cause skin damage. And depending on the intensity of the bulbs and if you have fair skin and hair, you may get a burn. You may notice that your skin is less able to heal and has a dry, wrinkled, leathery appearance starting in the first few years of middle age. And if the tanning beds aren't cleaned properly, your chances increase even more. The Canadian Dermatology Association also says tanning beds may increase the risk of developing skin cancer.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in Canada.
Melanoma is the fourth most common cancer for people between the ages of 15 and 35. It's also the deadliest form of skin cancer. A 1996 national survey conducted by Statistics Canada says teens are at particular risk for skin cancer. That's because some of us love to sunbathe in harmful tanning rays and because a lot of us don't protect ourselves from these rays. The Melanoma Center in Washington reported that people between the ages of 15 and 24 who sun tan frequently have 13 times the risk of developing melanoma.