Kelsey
"My name is Kelsey. I'm a college student and I used to go tanning. But when I agreed to appear in the Melanoma Foundation of New England's Public Service Announcement on tanning it changed my life. I got the facts about how dangerous UV rays are. Like, did you know that unprotected skin can be damaged by the sun in as little as fifteen minutes? And that tanning beds emit three to six times more UV radiation than the sun? I realized I was taking crazy chances with my body. I stopped tanning and started seeing a dermatologist regularly. And, I have to admit, I love the way my skin looks now."
SPONSORED BY
six flags





The Your Skin Is In contest has closed for 2012. Congratulations to the 2012 winners! Check out their photos here.

To receive information for next year’s contest, please email Amy Mason at amason@mfne.org.

Tanning for your prom, or any time, can be dangerous. You look great just the way you are. We think "Your Skin Is In". Participate in our contest, educate yourself and your school about the dangers of tanning, and your school could win $1,000!

Read the tanning facts and take the pledge.

The Facts of Tanning

  1. The World Health Organization has determined that UV rays from tanning beds cause cancer.

  2. People who use tanning beds once a month before the age of 35 increase their melanoma risk by 75%.

  3. Melanoma kills one person every 50 minutes. It is the second most common cancer for young adults aged 15-29 years old. Rates for melanoma are increasing faster than nearly all other cancers.

  4. It is not safe to tan in the sun or in a tanning booth. Using a tanning bed for 20 minutes is the same as spending 1-3 hours a day at the beach with no sun protection at all. Tanning beds put out 3-6 times the amount of radiation given off by the sun.

  5. For most people, 5-10 minutes of unprotected sun 2-3 times a week is enough to help your skin make Vitamin D, which is essential for your health. Getting more sun won't increase your Vitamin D level, but it will increase your risk of skin cancer. Vitamin D also comes from orange juice, milk, fish, and supplements.

If you want to look tan, try a self-tanning product,
but be sure to use sunscreen with SPF 30 as most self tanners
do not provide any sun protection.

pledge image


Your Name

Your School Name    Class(Grade)

Yes! I've read the facts of tanning and understand the dangers of tanning beds and lying out in the sun.