Using a tanning bed regularly is as lethal as taking arsenic or inhaling mustard gas! At least that's what a shocking new study claims.

The report found that the risk of skin cancer jumped by 75% when tanners started regularly using the beds before the age of 30.

"Tanning beds cause cancer and there is no longer any legitimate excuse to allow their use," said Len Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society.

This year alone, nearly 70,000 Americans will be diagnosed with melanoma, the deadliest skin cancer, says the American Cancer Society. Skin cancer has shown a marked increase in Americans younger than 30. Experts hare not surprised by this considering that tanning bed use has also increased among this population.

Want to do something about skin cancer?

• Have friends who use tanning beds? Print out this article along with a list of melanoma facts and give it to them!
• Host a hat day at school to teach people about protecting themselves against skin cancer.