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%u201CA healthy tan is the first sign of skin cancer,%u201D says an American Academy of Dermatology advertisement. One of the really dangerous things about sun exposure is that its damage doesn%u2019t usually show for years. But, if you%u2019re not smart, all those ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause problems today, too.

For starters, if you think tanning is good for your acne, you couldn%u2019t be more wrong. A tan may briefly make your acne look better, but the sun can be drying%u2014which makes your skin overproduce oil and actually causes more breakouts. UV rays have also been shown to increase outbreaks of skin infections such as herpes, or cold sores. Tanning doesn%u2019t help scars heal or fade, either; in fact, it can make them darker and more obvious.

On the business end, you%u2019d be wrong again if you think you won%u2019t burn in a tanning booth. If you burn outdoors, you%u2019ll burn indoors. Worse, because tanning beds use light similar to the sun%u2019s UV rays, your exposure is intensified%u2014an hour in a tanning bed is equivalent to several hours in the sun.

And the fiction of getting a base tan as protection against burning is exactly that: fiction. Even if you have naturally dark skin, you can burn and eventually develop skin cancer. If you%u2019re still not convinced and won%u2019t give up your hours in the sun or try a sunless tanner, use caution. Start slowly, use lots of sunscreen, reapply it often, limit exposure time and don%u2019t tan more than twice a week.

If you think it%u2019s rough heading back to school after summer vacation, imagine how you%u2019d feel on your first day back after being treated for cancer. If you have a friend facing that hurdle, you can make his or her adjustment easier with some thoughtful advance planning.

1. Arrange to meet at school so your friend doesn%u2019t have to move around campus alone, especially on that dreaded first day.
2. Don%u2019t be surprised if people seem awkward or uncomfortable around your friend. Almost everyone means well, but they%u2019re not sure what%u2019s acceptable to say. Offer your friend lots of support and be prepared to provide a shoulder to cry on.
3. Be sensitive and, if necessary, make it easy for your friend to rest without being conspicuous, like suggesting a stop for something to eat or drink.
4. Most important, realize that school is as much about learning as it about hanging out and being clued into all the little things that make a school a community.

If you can keep your friend in the loop throughout treatment%u2014even if it%u2019s by phone, text or e-mail%u2014you%u2019ll help maintain his or her sense of belonging so returning to school isn%u2019t so stressful.