A dermatologist who leads The Skin Cancer Medical Center in Encino, California, Dr. Norman Brooks has more than three decades of experience in treating skin conditions. Dr. Norman Brooks warns patients about factors that may increase their risk of skin cancer, such as regular tanning and the use of tanning beds.
The ultraviolet radiation in sunlight can act as a carcinogen and increase the risk of skin cancer. Two types of ultraviolet rays contribute to skin cancer: UVA and UVB.
UVA rays cause the skin to age, while UVB rays cause sunburn. UVB rays also trigger the production of vitamin D in the skin, but only a few minutes of sun exposure are necessary for the body to make vitamin D.
Tanning beds produce ultraviolet radiation that may pose a bigger threat than natural sunlight. According to statistics, tanning beds may increase the risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma by 67 percent and basal cell carcinoma by 29 percent.
Oncologists also attribute many cases of melanoma in women in their early 20s to the use of tanning beds. People who begin using tanning beds before the age of 35 have a 75-percent higher chance of developing melanoma.
