You wouldn’t think wealthy women ages 15 to 39 bear a greater burden of malignant melanoma, the most aggressive and deadliest of skin cancers. But they do. The culprit? Ultraviolet (UV) light exposure, most of which is attributable to tanning. A new study in the Archives of Dermatology exposes the deadly relationship between affluence and tanning. Of the 3,800 white adolescent and young adults (AYA) studied, females with higher socioeconomic status (SES) had 73 percent more melanoma diagnoses than their lower SES counterparts.

Incidence of skin cancer continues to rise among AYAs. Our culture tells us “tan = beautiful.” Well, tan may also equal cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 70,000 people are diagnosed with melanoma each year; nearly all of those cancers are preventable with sun safety. If you tan, stop. If you have loved ones that tan, urge them otherwise.

And join me this Sunday to continue to raise awareness for AYA cancer. Survival rates for those ages 15 to 39 battling cancer haven’t improved in nearly three decades. We can change that.