In the April issue of the Mayo Clinic Health Letter, the American Academy of Dermatology, AAD, warns of a pending skin cancer epidemic. Mayo Clinic researchers have found that the more common type of skin cancer, basal cell, tripled between 1976 and 2003, while the rate of squamous cell cancers increased four-fold for women under 40 years of age. Researchers believe this is the result of tanning bed use. According to the researchers, "Two types of ultraviolet light are linked to skin cancers. UVA, which penetrates deeper into the skin and weakens its immune defenses, is more responsible for melanoma, the most deadly type of skin cancer. UVB exposure causes sunburn, as well as squamous and basal cell skin cancers. Tanning beds emit UVA. Intense UVA exposure poses a greater risk of melanoma skin cancer than does spending long hours in the sun."

To be sun safe, the American Academy of Dermatology advises against the use of tanning beds. For the look of a tan, they suggest using a sunless self-tanning product. As for maintaining healthy levels of vitamin D -- do so with a supplement.