(HealthDay News) -- Tanning booths may be contributing to the meteoric rise in skin cancers seen worldwide.
Especially troubling is the increasing incidence of melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, say doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System.
While tanning outdoors is distinctly unhealthy, tanning beds may be even worse because people have a false sense of security from the sun tan parlors. These establishments generally use the longer wavelength ultraviolet A, which doesn't show a visible burn until very high doses.
People think it is safer, but in fact, the longer wavelength penetrates much deeper, hitting the blood vessels, causing a decrease in immune function.
So, the next time you think about getting that "healthy glow" from a tanning bed, it may not be so healthy.
