Hochman tells the story of a pediatrician named Jessica Lilley, who had developed malignant melanoma after years of using tanning beds. She did not realize the impact of using tanning beds until later on in her life when she was diagnosed with skin cancer. It is noted that "five to 10 minutes (depending on the equipment) in a tanning bed is roughly equivalent to a half-hour in the sun on a mid-July afternoon"(Hochman). This is a great comparison because it shows how much stronger tanning beds can be. Tanning beds are a huge risk, especially to those who are of a young age. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, "Nearly 70 percent of tanning salon patrons are Caucasian girls and women primarily between the ages of 16 and 29, and of the 28 million people who tan indoors every year, 2.3 million are teenagers." Similar to Jessica Lilley's experience, I also have a history of skin cancer. It is extremely important for me to prevent sunburn at all costs. Personally, getting sunburn on my back mutated the cells in a few of my moles, resulting in me needing to get them removed. I regularly visit the dermatologist to keep track of my moles. If a mole changes in shape, color, or size, it is highly recommended that the mole is biopsied and tested for cancer. It is very easy to develop skin cancer if the skin is not protected under harsh UV rays; thus, it is super important for people to regularly check their skin and protect it from the sun. Overall, many underage teenagers are unaware of the harsh effects of tanning beds, which is why it is so important that teens are educated early on in their…
