Can u still go to the tanning booth and not get skin cancer?(age 20)(once a week)?

Since I am used to the sun cause I just lived in sunny countries my whole life..( mum is from southamerican()...I get quite depressed when its winte and therefore go to the tanning booth (that's one reason)once a week ...I already have a brown tan ...since I tanned before in the countries I lived in(in the real sun) ..(africa,southamerica) ..so is there still a high risk for me to get skin cancer ...I really would like to continue going (once a week) but since I know that it causes skin cancer..I am not sure anymore...

Using a solarium for even a small amount of time can drastically increase your chances of developing skin cancer. Solariums emit ultraviolet (UV) radiation that is up to five times as strong as the midday sun.

The simple fact is that the more your skin is exposed to UV radiation the greater your risk of skin cancer 鈥?no matter what skin type you have.

Solariums use artificial UVA and UVB radiation, and both are known to be directly responsible for causing skin cancer and prematurely ageing your skin.

Using a solarium is not a safe way to tan. A solarium tan will not protect your skin against skin cancer. In fact, using a solarium can result in serious damage to your skin. This is a known fact.

If you want to read a bit more about the dangers associated with solariums, checkout the following links;

so long as you dont over do it theres little risk- particularly for you - as have genes from your mother protecting you from uvl
to a certain degree

If you are going to a tanning booth to improve your mood, I would suggest looking into purchasing a light box for light therapy. These are specifically designed for people whose mood is affected by the weather and they do not expose you to UV light, so they do not increase your risk of skin cancer.

For more information, check out the following websites:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phototherap...

http://www.homemakers.com/Health&Fitness...

http://www.apollolight.com/

http://www.day-lights.com/

You are at a very high risk of getting skin cancer!!! Those tanning booths are very bad for you and should be banned!!
A 22 yr old girl died recently from going to them and tanning at the beach all the time! She only had 10 visits at a solarium and got melanoma. They can be even more harmful than the sun! If I were you I would consider to not go to one anymore. Perhaps use tanning gels or creams to keep your tan going. Remember when you are older you don't want to be all wrinkley! But most of all , you don't want to die young from cancer just because of keeping a tan which is so not important! take care

What Lib said is correct.
A girl in her early 20's, here in Australia died recently from skin cancer bought on from tanning in a Solarium.
She spent her last weeks campaigning so that others would be aware of why she was dying so young.
What shocked me most about this case was that the girl concerned had naturally darker skin anyway. Why put yourself at risk like that when you don't "need" a tan?
Please don't take the risk too.
Please.don't.