Eager to soak up the sun, or at least look like they have, some folks are getting their bronze on early—indoors. But indoor tanning beds can increase the risk of melanoma up to four times, according to a new study released by the American Association for Cancer Research. The bottom line: Melanoma risk goes up with frequent indoor tanning, regardless of how old people are when they start using tanning beds.

According to the report, the pursuit of a bronzed body has become so popular that the indoor tanning industry estimates that some 30 million Americans visit tanning salons each year. That figure is nearly double that of the early 1980s. Last year the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified tanning devices as carcinogenic.

Also released recently, an American Academy of Dermatology survey of more than 7,000 people found that many respondents could not accurately tell true statements from false when it came to the risks of UV exposure and proper sun protection. For example, only 48 percent knew that the following statement was false: Getting a "base" tan from a tanning bed or booth was a "healthy" way to protect against sun damage. The Food and Drug Administration also recently warned against exposure to UV radiation from tanning beds.