The bottom line: “Tanning parlors actually give people UV radiation, which is harmful for their skin,” Thompson said. Ultraviolet light, no matter if you’re exposed indoors or out in the sun, damages your DNA in a way that can lead to the development of cancer. You don’t have to burn to damage your skin. A tan, no matter how it is acquired, is a sign of damage.

After UV damage, your skin protects itself by producing melanin — the pigment responsible for brown and black skin tones. However, most people don’t realize that the amount of protection conferred by melanin is tiny, said SCCA skin cancer physician Dr. Lee Cranmer.

“Even the darkest coloration of the skin with melanin only has an SPF [sun protection factor] equivalent to about 5,” Cranmer said. So, in comparison, the small amount of melanin that a fair-complexioned person would get as a result of a so-called base tan “isn’t really going to provide significant protection,” he said.

The best solution, Cranmer said: Use sun-blocking clothing and sunscreen, and avoid the sun from late morning until late afternoon. And never visit a tanning salon.

Myth 3: It’s OK as long as I’m not a frequent user of a tanning salon.

So you want to go to a tanning salon "just this one time" to get that sun-kissed look for a special event? Skip it, researchers say.

According to a systematic review of research by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, any use of a tanning bed before age 35 is associated with a 75 percent increase in risk for melanoma. The reviewers also identified an increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma, one of the most common types of skin cancer, from tanning bed use before one's mid-30s.

The increase in risk from even limited use of tanning beds is “so impressive and disturbing,” Lee said. “Each time is hugely damaging.”

Also, a growing body of evidence supports the idea that tanning has an addictive quality. Exposure to UV releases endorphins, the “pleasure chemical” of the human body that stimulates the brain’s reward center. But that rush can be dangerous.

“There are some people who are prone to addictive behavior who are prone to suntanning for the same reasons,” Cranmer said.

Other skin cancer myths

In addition to tanning salon myths, Fred Hutch experts highlighted other skin cancer fallacies:

Myth 4: I need to get out in the sun without sunscreen to get my vitamin D.

Many Americans are deficient in vitamin D, and certain groups — like older adults, obese people and people with dark skin — are at higher risk of a deficiency. And it’s true that UV exposure without the protection of sunscreen causes your skin to produce vitamin D. Vitamin D is important for promoting strong, healthy bones and has even been linked to lower risks of certain types of cancer.

But, Lee said, there are safer and more efficient ways of getting enough vitamin D: namely, taking vitamin D supplements and eating vitamin-fortified foods like some milk and cereal products.

According to the definitive 2010 report on vitamin D from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, there is no research to support the idea that you can safely get vitamin D from UV light without also increasing your risk of developing skin cancer.

Myth 5: After a long, dark winter, it’s not so bad to enjoy a little bit of sun without sunscreen for once.

Fred Hutch is based in Seattle, a city famous for its seasonal gloom. And Seattleites can vouch: There is no sight as glorious after a dark and rainy Northwest winter as a sunny blue sky. On the first warm days of the year, we crawl out of our winter hiding places, burst out of our GoreTex exoskeletons and throw our exposed flesh into the welcome rays.

There’s nothing wrong with enjoying the sunshine, Lee said. But slap on that sunscreen first. Getting a sunburn, even infrequently, boosts your risk of melanoma.

“People don’t realize that sporadic sun exposure can really cause a lot of damage,” Lee said. “The problem is people very naturally feel like they haven’t seen sun all year, or they go on vacation to Hawaii or the Southwest, and they feel like they don’t really need sun protection. And they get fried.”

Myth 6: I’m definitely applying my sunscreen correctly.

Are you sure?

“It’s pretty common that people don’t apply it frequently enough,” Lee said. “I think it’s common that people just apply it early in the day, but it really should be applied every two hours if you’re out in the sun.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends applying a thick layer of a broad spectrum sunscreen (that is, one that protects against both UVA and UVB light) of at least SPF 15 before going outside, even on cloudy or cool days. Sunscreen should be reapplied after two hours in the sun or after swimming, sweating or using a towel.

Myth 7: Skin cancer is not that big of a deal.

It is true that the most common types of skin cancers are not as deadly as many other malignancies. According to the American Cancer Society, 8.7 million people are diagnosed with the two most common types of skin cancer each year — basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma — and very few will die from these cancers. The U.S. records about 2,000 deaths from these two cancer types every year, according to the society. In comparison, the biggest cancer killer in the U.S. — lung cancer — takes the lives of more than 150,000 Americans a year.