Are tanning beds safe?Spring is almost here. Prom is weeks away. School year-end beauty competitions for scholarships are near. Swimsuit season hits within months. It seems like the perfect time for teens to get a “base tan” in a tanning bed. Tanning beds still pump out ultraviolet rays, causing long-term skin damage and increasing the chances of melanoma. They are not a viable alternative for obtaining vitamin D, as one would get from sunshine. And, that base tan is your body trying to protect you from more sun damage. Dr. Debra Mulligan joins host Melanie Cole, MS, to share why you should advise your child against using a tanning bed.