What is a common risk associated with improper tanning practices?

The choice regarding skin damage and potential skin cancer is correct because improper tanning practices, such as overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from tanning beds or the sun, can lead to significant harm to the skin. UV radiation can cause direct DNA damage in skin cells, potentially resulting in conditions like sunburn and accelerating the aging process of the skin. More critically, repeated and excessive exposure increases the risk of developing skin cancer, including melanoma, which is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition. Awareness of these risks is crucial for anyone considering tanning to promote safe practices and encourage protective measures, such as sunscreen use and limiting tanning sessions.

Other options present different effects that are not typically associated with improper tanning practices. Increased hair growth is not a recognized consequence of tanning, and improved skin hydration is actually contrary to the effects of UV exposure, which tends to dehydrate the skin. Permanent skin discoloration can occur, but it is often a result of certain tanning practices or conditions rather than a universal consequence of improper tanning, thus making skin damage and cancer the most pressing concern.