Women who visit tanning salons more than once a month are more than twice as likely to develop skin cancer.

A recent international study found that women who regularly visit tanning salons once or more a month had a 55 percent increased chance of developing melanoma, the most malignant form of skin cancer. Dr. Jonathan Goldfarb, associate professor and chief of dermatology at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield, explains the dangers of tanning salons.

SOUND BITE: "Tanning spa lights use predominately UVA, which is longer wave-length ultra-violet light. Ah we've known from past studies, ultra-violet light A is damaging to the skin. It destroys elastin tissue and collagen, which means that people wrinkle faster, and there has been an increasing body of evidence that it also contributes to the development of skin cancers."

The study, reported by the Associated Press, also found the risk of melanoma from sun exposure increased by 150 percent for women in their 20s. The risk for women with light hair and light skin tone increased about 200 percent. Dr. Goldfarb says individuals with a family history of skin cancer and those who burn or freckle also are at increased risk of developing skin cancer. He says it is very important for people to examine their skin regularly and pay special attention to moles or dark skin spots. He explains the difference between benign and malignant moles.

SOUND BITE: "However moles which are malignant ah tend to grow very irregularly. Their color is various, different shades of brown and black. And the border is irregular, the border is asymmetrical, and they tend to be larger than the typical mole ah that you see in people, which is benign. The malignant mole many times is larger than a pencil head eraser . . ."

Dr. Goldfarb recommends that people avoid tanning spas and have dark asymmetrical moles or skin spots checked by their family doctor or dermatologist.