Mothers are tremendously influential on their teens, but when it comes to tanning behavior, that’s not a good thing.  A study sponsored by the American Academy of Dermatology shows teenagers of mothers who use tanning beds are four times as likely to use tanning beds than teenagers of mothers who don’t.  This is hugely significant because the individual rate for melanoma, an aggressive skin cancer, increases by 75% for people who use tanning beds.  The same study revealed that peer pressure also contributed to teens using tanning beds.  Of the teens that admitted to tanning, over half said that their friends tanned as well.  Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer, and unfortunately Houston dermatologist Stephen Mahoney, M.D. sees skin cancer in patients in their 20’s.  If you are a parent who tans, please consider the impact you’re having on your teenager’s behavior as well as the impact you’re having on your own health.  There is no such thing as a “safe” tanning bed.