According to a recently published article in the Archives of Dermatology indoor tanning qualifies as an addiction.

The study surveyed University of Albany, in Albany, NY, college students. Of the 229 responders who have used tanning beds, 39.3% met the criteria for addiction. Those that were considered addicted to tanning showed classic signs of addiction - several unsuccessful attempts to completely stop or cut back on tanning; feeling annoyed when they were told they should stop; and skipping work, school or other scheduled activities to go to the tanning salon.

Slightly of two-thirds of the study participants were female.

According to a study published in the March issue of the Archive of Dermatology, the rate of non-melanoma skin cancer in the U.S. is reaching epidemic proportions, with more than two million people affected in 2006.

In that year, an estimated 3,507,693 cases of non-melanoma skin cancer were treated, affecting 2,152,500 people according to Howard Rogers, MD, PhD, of Advanced Dermatology in Norwich, Conn., and colleagues.

But between 2002 and 2006, Rogers and colleagues found that the number of procedures for nonmelanoma skin cancer per affected person increased 1.5% and the number of people who had at least one procedure increased by 14.3%.

"There is an epidemic of nonmelanoma skin cancer in the U.S.," they wrote, adding that "educational programs emphasizing sun protection have mainly been disappointing in slowing skin cancer rates."

"This is only going to get worse," said Dr. Suephy Chen, an associate professor of dermatology at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta told Fox47. "Our population is aging. Those people who grew up in the 1970s and 1980s when there was not a big sun-protection message out there are now coming into their 50s and 60s and are starting to develop skin cancers."

To lessen your chances of getting skin cancer, dermatologists recommend applying broad-spectrum sunscreen liberally and often; wearing hats and other protective clothing when out in the sun; avoiding sun exposure when the sun's rays are the strongest -- between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. -- and never using tanning beds. This advice is especially useful in the upcoming summer months.

It's especially important to take these steps with children and teens, Rogers said. Skin cancer is turning up in younger and younger patients. In the past week or so, he removed non-melanoma cancer off the cheek of a 17-year-old boy and removed a melanoma from an 18-year-old girl.

Being diagnosed with skin cancer is different for everyone, but reading about how other people have coped may help you.

About.com's Guide to Cancer has created a space for you to share your story with others. Be sure to check there frequently to see when others have posted their stories.

The New York Times has an interesting article today looking at the effect of a cancer drug called PLX4032, which is currently being tested on melanoma patients.

The drug, which targets a specific gene mutation that drives cancer growth, has been shown to shrink tumors by more than 30% in 9 of the 16 melanoma patients in the phase 1 trial. However, it will take much more research before this treatment option is widely available.

You can read more about the specific outcomes of the PLX4032 trial in this Medical News Today article.