BACKGROUND: Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, more than one million cases of basal cell or squamous cell skin cancers occur every year. Melanoma skin cancer strikes more than 59,000 people in the United States each year and kills more than 7,000 people. Melanoma is the most common form of cancer for women between ages 25 to 29. According to statistics from the World Health Organization, melanoma is becoming more common in the United States and other countries around the world.

HOW TO SPOT SKIN CANCER: Experts say you should always be aware of the ABC’s of skin cancer. These include:

A -- Asymmetry: an abnormal lesion will have one side looking different than the other side
B -- Border: watch for an irregular border or one with roughly demarcated edges
C -- Color: observe for lesions that have changed color over time or are multi-colored
D -- Diameter: be suspicious of lesions that are larger than a pencil eraser

THE INDOOR TANNING CRAZE: More than 1 million Americans tan indoors everyday, and there are nearly 20,000 tanning salons across the United States. Tanning is a $2 billion industry!

DANGEROUS RAYS: Most tanning salon owners promote their beds by emphasizing that they only emit ultraviolet A (UVA) light. UVA rays are thought to be safer than ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, which cause burning. However, new research shows UVA light received in a tanning bed may be up to 10-times more than the amount people normally receive from the sun. Other research links tanning salon rays to the risk of developing melanoma. In a recent study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, women who visited tanning salons more than once a month were about 55- percent more likely to develop melanoma.

SAFE ALTERNATIVES: Lynn Cornelius, M.D., from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, says there are safe alternatives to indoor tanning. Airbrush tans and creams you buy at the store are safe ways to get that healthy glow without the risk. Dr. Cornelius says: “They’re absolutely safe as far as what we can tell at this point. They all have the same chemical in them. The chemical, upon oxidation, works with the top layer of your skin cells to turn a tannish color. They’re much better than the old creams that used to turn people orange.” Dr. Cornelius adds you shouldn’t inhale the sunless tanning products.