I was born and raised in Palm Beach County, South Florida. The ocean, the beach and the sun are just another daily routine in the life of a South Floridian. Sunbathing is a hobby I never realized was so important until I moved to Orlando; when going to the beach and tanning is a privilege shared only occasionally. In Palm Beach County, it's hard to find anyone who isn't ten shades darker than they naturally otherwise are. When news came out about the negative effects of UV light, I constantly heard "Oh, that won't happen to me, I'll deal with it when I'm older, but for now I'll keep tanning." Today, skin cancer “is the most common type of cancer in the United States” (Ferrini, 2008). It's also the most dangerous for older adults simply because of that mentality: “Oh, I'll worry about it later”; this is exactly what happens to those who develop skin cancer. I have noticed a minimal decrease in tanning in my country, simply because people are more aware of skin cancer; but they continue to run the risks of not protecting themselves from the sun. The three main types of skin cancer include: basal cell, squamous cell, and melanoma. Skin cancer is usually diagnosed in older adults because skin cancer takes many years to develop after a significant amount of exposure; this prevails because the baby boom generation turned 65 last year. “Skin cancer is on the rise in the United States, due to increased exposure to the sun through tanning…” (Ferrini, 2008). I believe this is the best time for a dermatologist to begin practice in an area like Palm Beach County because it is a popular destination for retirees where ignorance is rampant about UV protection. Another reason I believe...... middle paper ......h county and through the coasts and move inland throughout the country. Skin cancer will only get worse as the ozone layer depletes, so it's vital that younger generations learn now. Works Cited Ferrini, AF, & Ferrini, RL (2008). Other chronic diseases and conditions. Health in recent years (4th ed., p. 149). Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. C. Brown. Health effects of overexposure to the sun. (n.d.). US Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved June 10, 2011, from http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/uvandhealth.htmlSkin Cancer Facts. (n.d.). The Skin Cancer Foundation. Retrieved June 10, 2011, from http://www.skincancer.org/Skin-Cancer-Facts/#agingSmith, R. (2010, November 30). Older people "ignore" the signs of skin cancer. The telegraph. Retrieved June 10, 2011, from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8167776/Elderly-ignoring-skin-cancer-signs.html