Is indoor tanning safe and should I use it to get a base tan before going on vacation?

The argument that tanning beds and booths do not cause skin mutations that may cause cancerous lesions to develop is patently false. UVA rays found in indoor tanning lead to deeper more harmful skin damage. You do not have to have a sunburn to create damage to skin cells. Any tan is a scar, and there is no such thing as a healthy, safe tan. Self-tanners are the safest way to obtain tanned skin. ~Taken from Skin Inc. mag 5/09