American teens are using less sunscreen in spite of warnings about skin cancer.

A report, published in August in the publication from the CDC called Preventing Chronic Disease, found that the number of teenagers in the U.S. who are using sunscreen has declined almost 12 percent in the last 10 years. According to the paper, 67.7 percent of teens reported using sunblock in 2001, but only 56.1 reported applying it in 2011.

Skin cancer is considered to be largely a preventable disease. The surgeon general reported earlier this year that skin cancer rates have shot up almost 200 percent during the past 30 years. Released as part of an informational campaign by health officials to curb these rates, the report recommended the use of sunscreen to protect the skin from damaging rays.

Despite decades of warnings similar to this, young Americans appear to be increasingly choosing to forgo the use of sunblock while still actively tanning, both indoor and out.

Indoor tanning beds are especially dangerous, but the report from August has determined that the number of teens utilizing this tanning method has not dropped in the same way sunscreen usage has.

The rate of Caucasian females who tan in booths has only declined half as much as the rate of those using sunscreen. Between 2009 and 2011 the rate of white teen girls tanning indoors went from 37 percent to 29.

The tendencies towards these risky behaviors in this age group can have serious consequences later in life, said Assistant Profession and lead researcher, Corey Basch.

Experts suggest that people should apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before going out in the sun and then reapply it every two hours after, especially if in the water. The best sunscreens should include zinc, as it offers protection from UVA and UVB rays, both of which are harmful to the skin.