While beach goers bathe for that desirable tan, changes to their skin can put their lives at danger. Cases of skin cancer have been on the rise for the past few decades and multiple studies have linked skin cancer to the amount of lifetime sun exposure. “Tanning is essentially the skin’s response to direct damage from the sun’s harmful rays” says Dr. Hootan Zandifar Director of Skin Center at Osborne Head and Neck Institute. “There are, however, several steps that can be taken to decrease the likelihood of getting skin cancer and still enjoy your time in the sun.”