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Dermatologist Warns Teens Against Tanning

LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. (CBS) -- A Lincolnshire dermatologist will be at Libertyville High School Thursday, hoping to save kids' lives.

As WBBM Newsradio's Mike Krauser reports, one could say Dr. Amy Taub is a woman on a mission.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Mike Krauser reports

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"We're hoping for 10,000 pledges from anybody," Taub said. Ten thousand pledges to avoid tanning, that is.

"We've seen a real acceleration of melanoma skin cancer, especially in young girls," Taub said. "It's kind of shocking – this is the kind that can actually spread internally. It can be fatal."

Taub says in almost every case, there is a tanning booth connection, and there is research to back the claim.

"If you went in a tanning booth four or five times in a year, that increased your risk of melanoma 74 percent," she said.

Of course, there are other experts who say there are benefits to tanning, including vitamin D absorption.

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