Melanoma Diagnoses Doesn't Stop Some From Using Tanning Beds

The dangers of too much sun exposure can cause sunburns, premature aging and in extreme cases, cancer. It's important to heed these warnings and always wear sunscreen when outside, avoid sun exposure and never set foot in a tanning bed. However, a recent study shows many are not following any of these precautions, especially during the summer time when the sun is the strongest. And, to make matters worse, of those who have been diagnosed with melanoma, statistics show they are the most likely to not follow any of the rules.

According to U.S. News and World Report, researchers from Yale University used data from the 2010 National Health Interview Study, which surveyed 27,000 people. One hundred and seventy-one of those surveyed had been diagnosed with melanoma.

Melanoma survivors are often more prudent than others who may tend to be more carefree about their skincare practices. According to USA Today, 32 percent of these adults use sunscreen all the time, compared to 17 percent of the general population. They're also more likely to stay in the shade, wear hats and avoid sunbeds.

However, many researchers are still concerned with other data they collected. For instance, according to the American Association for Cancer Research, 15.4 percent of melanoma survivors reported that they rarely or never stayed in the shade, 27.3 percent said they never wore sunscreen and 2.1 percent said they used tanning beds the previous year, leading some researchers to believe that tanning may be an addiction.

Some researchers also suggest that melanoma survivors may feel invincible, especially those who received a diagnosis at a young age. Oftentimes, if skin cancer is caught early, it is easy to cure, but researchers note that those with melanoma have a higher risk of getting it again.

Other experts cite the study as proof that humans instinctively seek out sunlight in an effort to receive Vitamin D.