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ST. LOUIS – A new report in the journal “Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention” says the use of indoor tanning beds increases the risk of melanoma two and four fold depending on the type of machine and the length of time a person tans.

Also, the report said those who tanned indoors had a 74 percent increased risk of melanoma.

“It’s really not all that surprising to anyone who does a lot of skin cancer work,” says Lynn Cornelius, MD, chief of dermatology at the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine. “I see a lot of individuals – particularly women – with melanoma who’ve used tanning beds.”

It’s the largest study of its kind on the issue.