Think you look so great when you’re at the beach in your bikini after basking in the sun for hours? Think you look hot for the dance after lying in a tanning bed? Think again. In reality, the dark skin you’ve been working so hard to attain is actually doing more harm than good and will eventually lead to wrinkles and serious health problems … not beauty.

Skin cancer is spreading across the nation. With more than 1 million people diagnosed with skin cancer each year, more people are becoming informed regarding the dangers of sun exposure.

The hard facts are that one in five Americans will get skin cancer in his or her lifetime.

You should start by protecting yourself from the damaging ultraviolet rays. This can be done by applying sunscreen with at least an SPF of 15 or higher and reapply it every two hours, after swimming or sweating. However, if sunscreen isn’t an option, then wear a wide-brimmed hat or dark, tightly woven clothes. For those who still want that tan, there are cosmetics such as bronzers or self-tan lotions that darken after every application. Sun block and self-tanners are the new dynamic duo that give you a tan without the UV damage.

Ask yourself this: “Is tan skin and a bikini more important to you than your health?”