by KYW's Lynne Adkins
A local researcher has found that tanning salons are not just for teens getting ready for prom.
Older Americans are throwing out the sunscreen and heading off to the tanning salon in surprising numbers. Dr. Carolyn Heckman (right), a behavioral researcher at Fox Chase Cancer Center, surveyed more than 29,000 adults and found that 14% of people in their 40s and 10% above 50 use tanning beds, putting themselves at a higher risk for skin cancer:
"Absolutely, I was surprised that older adults were indoor tanning, especially because skin cancer, like all cancers, occurs more often in older adults, so they are at a more immediate risk of skin cancer."
She says skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in this country.
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