Mothers who tan need to know that they may be putting their daughters at risk for cancer. A new survey by the American Academy of Dermatology finds that Caucasian teens and young women who tan indoors are four times as likely to have a mother who uses a tanning bed than those who don't tan indoors. Indoor tanning increases the risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, by 75 percent.

Melanoma can have tragic consequences. As a dermatologist and a mother, I know that actions speak louder than words. It's absolutely critical that mothers set a good example for their daughters by not tanning.

The survey also finds that nearly half of indoor tanners feel peer pressure to be tan, while just over one quarter of non-indoor tanners feel pressure.

"Just like smoking cigarettes, tanning is a dangerous, unhealthy behavior that teens and young women succumb to from peer pressure. It is so important for teens to learn the dangers of tanning beds and sun exposure from their parents."

"I know that tanning seems harmless. As a mom, it's probably one battle you just don't want to fight. But I know the consequences, and they can be deadly."

Donna Regan's daughter Jaime was a high school student who used tanning beds nearly every day, and also spent time in the sun. She died from melanoma three weeks before her thirtieth birthday. Her mother Donna never used tanning beds, and had no idea their use would raise her daughters skin cancer risk.

“No mother should ever have to take their daughter to cancer treatments or visit them in a cemetery. If a mother allows her daughter to use tanning beds, she's putting her daughter’s life at risk.”

For more information on skin cancer, please visit www.melanomamonday.org.