Think Indoor Tanning Is a Safer Alternative to Sitting in the Sun? Think Again

June 21 marks the official start of summer, signaling months of long days spent in the sun, vacations to warm and tropical locations, and, of course, suntans.

In a quest for a perfect tan, many people may head to a tanning salon, using tanning booths, sunbeds, and sunlamps to kick-start their tans. Others may head to the salon to slowly develop a “base tan,” with the mistaken belief that it will prevent a sunburn. But here’s the thing: Indoor tanning is just as damaging to your health as lying out in the real sun.