A tan may look healthy, but to dermatologists it tells a different story — one of DNA damage that can lead to skin cancer decades later.
"Skin cancer is one of the most preventable cancers and yet one of the fastest rising," said Ivan Litvinov, an associate professor of dermatology at McGill University in Montreal.
According to Melanoma Canada, an estimated 11,300 Canadians were newly diagnosed with melanoma in 2024, a 17 percent increase from the previous year.
UV exposure remains the main driver of melanoma and several other forms of skin cancer. Yet many people continue to seek tans, often viewing them as a sign of health or attractiveness.
"There is no safe tan, unfortunately, just as there is no safe cigarette," Litvinov told China Daily.
