What's so bad about getting that killer tan? What was once considered a harmless and relaxing activity to enjoy in the sun, tanning is now considered a dangerous and deadly, cancer-causing activity. Not only are the sun's rays dangerous, but even being in the sun is dangerous if you don't wear sunscreen. However, the sun is not the only way to tan. Tanning salons are another way to get the sun's rays. Each year, more than 30 million men and women visit a tanning salon to maintain the tan they worked for all summer (Richardson). In a culture where people want to tan, the dangers of sunbathing are often overlooked. Due to the many dangers of indoor tanning, different solutions and laws should be considered to prevent adolescent exposure to UVA rays. This year, people may want to think twice before slipping into a tanning bed to maintain a bronzed glow on your skin. . The amount of UVA rays/light emitted from tanning beds worries people who tan frequently because of the damage it causes to their skin. In the 1980s, after their discovery in tanning beds, blisters in the beds could cause serious damage to the skin and eyes in less than a minute of exposure (Levine). There are two types of UVA rays involved in the tanning process: UVA and UVB. UVB rays are the main culprit in health risks associated with indoor and outdoor tanning, and UVA rays are relatively weak, but long rays that penetrate deep into the skin (Levine). This year, the American Cancer Society estimates there have been 68,720 new cases and 8,650 deaths from melanoma, due to indoor tanning bed use and outdoor sun exposure (Richardson ). Additionally, the risk of developing skin cancer because of this desire...... middle of paper ...... e continue to tan in UVA beds, their skin may be damaged for life and their cause bigger problems. down the line. The “healthy” glow of the sun may be attractive, but we are defeating the purpose of looking healthy in the long term. Works Cited Cornforth, Tracee. “Indoor tanning booths. » About.com. Np, August 26, 2009. Web. April 25, 2010. “Indoor tanning: the risks of ultraviolet rays. » FDA Food and Drug Administration. Np, and Web. April 25, 2010.Levine, Hallie. “A killer tan.” Prevention May 2004: 156-202. Health Source: General public edition. Internet. May 17, 2010. Richardson, Kelly. “That healthy glow… not so healthy?” » Source Santé – General public edition. Np, November 2009. Web. April 26, 2010. Townsend, Angela. “Shedding light on the truth about the sun and skin cancer. » NewsBank America Newspapers July 8, 2008: n. page. NewsBank Newspapers. Internet. May 4 2010.