Though we’ve all known for some time that sun tanning can cause skin cancer, international cancer experts now say that it’s a much bigger risk than we may have thought before.

Ultraviolet radiation sources—including tanning beds—have now been moved to the top cancer risk category. This classification means that, along with tobacco products, hepatitis B and chimney sweeping, tanning is now considered a certain course for cancer.

You know, if any other form of radiation were the case, I doubt people would be paying to get it. I get upset every time my daughter has to have an x-ray, for crying out loud; and people have to wear suits to deal with other radiation forms as a job hazard. So why do we keep doing it? And why do parents allow their own children to do it?

The report when on to say that tanning beds (and other sources of ultraviolet radiation) are as deadly as mustard gas and arsenic. This follows the scientific community’s description of such radiation as “probably carcinogens” for years.

This is serious news, folks—in fact, once I read this report, I called and read it aloud on my sister’s voicemail. It hasn’t stopped her from tanning yet, but I’ve still got my fingers crossed.

Keep in mind that if you are under 30 and using tanning beds, your risk of developing skin cancer jumps up by a whopping 75%. There has been a definite rise concerning young people and skin cancer; in fact, in Britain, melanoma is now the leading cancer diagnosis of young women.

You can still get as dark as you want without using the sun! There are plenty of fake tanning products on the market to give you the glow you’re after. You can even still go to the salon and for about the price of a tanning package buy an application of sunless tanning. A professional will be able to apply it without the streaks you worry about—and without the sun’s UV rays.

And if you don’t want to spend a wad at the salon, you can always buy your own spray-on or blend-in self-tanner. It’s easy to apply, and once you get the hang of it you’ll be able to do it year-round without a fuss.

And that said, being super pale isn’t out of fashion, either. Did you know that some cultures actually bleach their skin in order to attain the natural paleness that many Americans already have?

Why not embrace your own culture, love the way you look and stop harming yourself to get the “look” you want so badly?