According to new research, the source of tanning the skin does not decrease the chances of contracting skin Cancer form the UV rays put off by the sun. Researchers are even going so far as to state the positive effects of the sun’s rays, such as Vitamin D production, may be overstated.

The tanning industry is a money making industry. This means that the tanning companies will go far to keep their customer base strong and the profits coming in to the tanning salons. Many salons will offer their services as a means of a “safe” tan, but that is simply not the case.

In the United States, skin cancer is the number one reported skin malignancy. More than 1 million new cases were reported in 2008 alone with more than 20% of the population presenting with some form of skin cancer within their lifetimes.

Despite this negative effect of tanning, the tanning salon industry and business continues to profit and grow. This simply means that people are not getting the information on the negative impact of the UV radiation or they do not believe skin cancer can happen to them.

At the heart of the growth is an interpretation of information. The tanning companies are presenting the tanning industry as the safe alternative to the sun based on complex phenomenon appearing at the molecular level. The truth is, tanning creates damage at the DNA level no matter the source of the UV radiation. This damage can lead to skin cancer over time.

Vitamin D production is another form of propaganda used by the tanning industry as to say, the end health benefits outweigh the chances of skin cancer. The fact is that the sun does help the body to produce Vitamin D, but there are other safer sources of this Vitamin that do not run a 20% risk of contracting skin cancer.

In order to boost Vitamin D levels naturally, a supplement can be taken on a daily basis. A doctor can run a blood test to mark the levels of Vitamin D in the body and make sure the levels are within a healthy range.

The WHO, World Health Organization, among other health groups, have been asking for a ban on sun bed tanning for those under the age of 18 for quite some time.