ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) – As temperatures rise and more people seek a summer tan, dermatologists are warning that all tans indicate DNA damage to the skin.
“People are looking at that kind of bronze glow and feeling like it’s a sign of health, but what we really know is that all tans are a sign of DNA damage,” said Dr. Spencer Dunaway, a dermatologist with the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
Tanning exposes the skin to dangerous UV radiation, which increases the risk of developing several cancers and cataracts and can cause premature skin aging.
Indoor tanning carries heightened risks
Indoor tanning through a tanning bed or sunlamp can be even more dangerous. In some cases, tanning beds emit UV radiation up to 15 times the strength of the midday sun…