Melanoma can develop within an existing nevus or appear differently as a new nevus. The most common form of cancer in the United States is skin cancer. The three prevalent types are: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Melanoma is the deadliest of these three, and, according to the CDC, claimed 8,188 lives in 2016. That's because it metastasizes often and quickly, damaging other areas of the body. In adolescents, does restrictive legislation on the use of indoor tanning beds positively affect the rate of new cases of melanoma compared to promoting preventive education alone? These legislations are being explored as a solution to slow and halt the increasingly alarming number of melanoma cases in adolescents. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Susceptibility to developing melanoma is having non-modifiable genetic risk factors such as skin pigmentation, family history, and hair and eye color (CDC, 2019). Modifiable risks include overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays via sunlight, use of tanning beds, and limited educational efforts about melanoma. For this reason it is important to undergo regular skin checks by a dermatologist, especially if you have a genetic predisposition or environmental factors to the development of melanoma. Raising awareness at a young age can be instrumental in reducing the rate of diagnosis in adolescents. Evidence has shown a strong correlation between the development of skin cancer in people who use tanning beds. In particular, if adopted as a practice during adolescence, it surprisingly increases the risk of melanoma by 75%. According to the World Health Organization (2014), adolescents are individuals who fall within the age group of 10-19 years. This is a delicate period of development in which education, awareness and experiences shape one to assume adult responsibilities (WHO, 2014). The use of tanning beds has been linked to cancer, yet teenagers overlook the health risks and continually expose themselves by engaging in these practices. The question then arises: what determines the speed and intensity with which to execute a plan to combat melanoma? It should not be limited to primary care providers during a diagnosis to provide adolescents with advance guidance to make sound decisions throughout their lives. Most notable is the misinformation that melanoma affects a single race when all races are susceptible to this type of cancer. In a study conducted by Williams et al. (2013), adolescents participated in a questionnaire to ascertain their level of understanding and attitude towards skin safety. While they are aware of protection methods and the skin's vulnerability to UV rays, there are multiple factors that play a role in their judgment. It includes family and peer influences, as well as beauty standards set by the media. Compared to natural sunlight, the body requires approximately 10-15 minutes to convert vitamin D to its active form within the UVB range of 290 - 300 nm. UV damage manifests itself in tanning and sunburn, these are prerequisites for cancer. The tanning bed emits UVA rays of 320 to 400 nm which penetrate deeper into the skin causing more damage seen as a tan. Therefore, even though it is convenient to tan indoors, tanning beds are directly linked to cancer. Furthermore, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has not declared an expected.