Cancer at a Discount

Would you take advantage of a sale offering you cancer at a discount?

If you're saying, "What?!", look no further than your local tanning salon.

A recent study puts tanning beds in the same category as cigarettes and asbestos for the cancer risk they pose.

Scientists who met at The International Agency for Research on Cancer recommended tanning beds be re-categorized under the highest cancer risk and labeled as being "carcinogenic to humans."

You may think this sounds like an overreaction. But the risk for developing melanoma grows by 75 percent when you start using tanning beds before the age of 30. And the fact is, indoor tanning is becoming more popular with adolescents and young adults, despite the well-publicized risks for skin cancer.

So why do people still tan when they may know the risks? A growing body of evidence shows tanning may be addictive ' especially indoor tanning.

The latest study, done at Northeastern University, surveyed hundreds of students and found that over a third who used tanning beds fit the criteria for tanning addiction. Nearly all knew the cancer risk, yet continued to tan. Eighty percent tried to stop but couldn't and felt guilty for tanning too much.

Researchers who did earlier studies believe the addiction is caused by ultraviolet rays coming from the tanning bed. They believe UV rays cause the brain to release endorphins ' a feel-good chemical.

In fact, one study found frequent tanners who took a drug blocking the endorphins experienced withdrawal symptoms like nausea.

What we know about UV rays is that, over time, they cause mutations in our DNA that can lead to skin cancer. The most deadly is melanoma, which is now the second most common type of cancer among women.

So the next time you think being tan is the look of good health... remember it's the killer look you don't want.