[UV radiation, tanning and DNA damage].

Excessive exposure to UV radiation is the most significant known risk factor for skin cancer. Solarium devices produce UVA radiation that is 5 to 10 times stronger than that produced by the sun. All wavelengths of UV radiation cause DNA damage to skin cells and cause tanning. Tanning protects skin cells from further damage. The DNA damages caused by UVA and UVB radiation, however, differ from each other. The protective capacity of tanning caused by UVA radiation seems to be lower than that caused by UVB radiation.