The number of people using indoor tanning beds tends to increase this time of year. John Lowe, DrPH, FAHPA, FAAHB, a cancer prevention specialist with Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center at The University of Iowa, talks   about the news of important study that shows that indoor tanning poses a clear increased risk for developing skin cancer:  

Who conducted this study?

This was conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. This is a very prestigious organization that is thought of very similar to many of the other organizations like WHO that brings together the best world scientists to come up with taking the available statistical and scientific data to conclude results.

What did the working group conclude about the use of indoor tanning facilities?

They came up with four conclusions and this is the first time we've really had this type of documentation available to us:

• First and foremost, there's a clear increase in melanoma risk associated with the use of sun beds in teens and individuals in their twenties. The data shows a predominant, consistent increased risk in melanoma for people who first used sun beds in their twenties or teen years. This is actually about a 75 percent increase in risk of melanoma that was calculated for such users, which was very scary.

• The second thing they came up with was that there's an increase in risk for squamous cell cancer of the skin associated with the use of sun beds in teens. While there is limited data, the risk is clear that similar first use as a teenager increases your risk substantially for squamous cell. And while not as deadly as melanoma, is still of concern.

• The third recommendation that they came up with is that actually sun bed use influences and affects your immune system, so obviously that's of concern to all of us.

• And the last one was that there were no positive health affects, that artificial tanning does little to protect our skin. There's talk always about individuals that need vitamin D, and interestingly, here in Iowa, we don't have a concern with needing to get out in the sun for vitamin D deficiency. So there are no positive aspects and there are those three and possibly more detrimental affects from using indoor tanning facilities.

Why is this study important?

While many of us have believed that this is the case for a number of years, this is the first empirical evidence and document by a reputable authority to outline these risks.

What did the researchers recommend about the use of tanning beds?

It's pretty clear cut. They conclude that they should not be used, that these findings should give the community and the consumer enough evidence that they should avoid the use of indoor tanning facilities.

What additional advice do you have for people about reducing their risk for skin cancer?

This group of experts talked about not only the need to avoid, but if you do want to have tanned skin, for whatever reason, the use of artificial, spray on tans and other dyes that change the skin's color should be used.

In Iowa here, one of the things that it's mid-January and we're thinking about the warm weather, hopefully some time in the next couple months, we need to also focus on the aging of the skin and be looking at yourself in the mirror and saying, this is my normal look and isn't that beautiful.

Many people comment to me how Nicole Kidman's skin is just gorgeous. Nicole actually is an Australian who grew up in Australia but protected herself from the sun and now has some of the most beautiful skin that women all over the world admire. So beauty is, yes, skin deep, but it can also be fair skin deep.

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