Use of Tanning Beds and Incidence of Skin Cancer

Abstract

<jats:sec><jats:title>Purpose</jats:title><jats:p>We sought to evaluate the risk effect of tanning bed use on skin cancers among teenage and young adults. We also expected to determine whether a dose-response relationship was evident.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Patients and Methods</jats:title><jats:p>We observed 73,494 female nurses for 20 years (from 1989 to 2009) in a large and well-characterized cohort in the United States and investigated whether frequency of tanning bed use during high school/college and at ages 25 to 35 years were associated with a risk of basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and melanoma. We used Cox proportional hazards models and carefully adjusted for host risk factors, ultraviolet index of residence, and sun exposure behaviors at a young age.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>During follow-up, 5,506 nurses were diagnosed with BCC, 403 with SCC, and 349 with melanoma. The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of skin cancer for an incremental increase in use of tanning beds of four times per year during both periods was 1.15 (95% CI, 1.11 to 1.19; P &lt; .001) for BCC, 1.15 (95% CI, 1.01 to 1.31; P = .03) for SCC, and 1.11 (95% CI, 0.97 to 1.27; P = .13) for melanoma. Compared with tanning bed use at ages 25 to 35 years, we found a significantly higher risk of BCC for use during high school/college (multivariable-adjusted HR for use more than six times per year compared with no use was 1.73 during high school/college v 1.28 at ages 25 to 35 years; P for heterogeneity &lt; .001).</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title><jats:p>Our data provide evidence for a dose-response relationship between tanning bed use and the risk of skin cancers, especially BCC, and the association is stronger for patients with a younger age at exposure.</jats:p></jats:sec>

Indoor tanning promotions on social media in six US cities #UVTanning #tanning

“…Ultraviolet (UV) exposure is the primary and preventable risk factor for skin cancer [12][13][14]. Indoor UV tanning appears responsible for part of the rise over the past several decades among young women [15,16]. More frequent use, use of higher intensity devices, and use over longer periods of time have all been linked to elevated melanoma risk [15,16].…”

“…Indoor UV tanning appears responsible for part of the rise over the past several decades among young women [15,16]. More frequent use, use of higher intensity devices, and use over longer periods of time have all been linked to elevated melanoma risk [15,16].The annual prevalence of indoor tanning in the USA is highest among non-Hispanic white women between the ages of 18-21 (32 %) and 22-25 (30 %) [17]. Two thirds (68 %) of 18-21-year-old non-Hispanic white women who use indoor tanning report frequent use (10 or more indoor tanning sessions per year), with an average of nearly 28 indoor tanning sessions per year [17].…”

Early-Onset Basal Cell Carcinoma and Indoor Tanning: A Population-Based Study

“…In this study, number of times per year participants reported using a tanning bed was associated with risk of BCC, particularly among those who used tanning beds at a younger age, such as during high school or college; the relative risk for 4 times per year compared with no use in high school or college was 1.40, and for 25 to 35 years of age it was 1.19. 21 However, this report did not specifically evaluate earlyonset tumors. Likewise, in our previous report, based on only the first phase of accrual, 25 we were unable to examine risk of developing an early-onset tumor or the impacts of early age at exposure in much detail because of the limited sample size.…”

“…14,[16][17][18][19] Previous studies provide consistent evidence about the risks of melanoma and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin related to tanning lamp use. 15,20,21 More recent work raises the possibility of an elevated risk of BCC from early exposure, 21,22 and that exposure may lead to earlier onset of the disease. 23 As part of a population-based case-control study of BCC, we had an opportunity to examine age at first tanning lamp exposure in relation to the incidence of early-onset BCC and to investigate whether effects were specific to the type of device used (eg, sunlamps, tanning beds, or booths) or period of use.…”

Health behaviours associated with indoor tanning based on the 2012/13 Manitoba Youth Health Survey

“…6 "Ever use" of tanning beds before the age of 25 was found to significantly increase melanoma risk, [8][9] and correlations have also been found between indoor tanning and basal and squamous cell carcinoma. [9][10][11] The National Sun Survey II 1 (NSS2) estimated that 10.5% of the Canadians surveyed in 2006 tanned indoors in the past year, an increase from 7.7% in 1996, which suggests a growth in popularity. The NSS2 also found that indoor tanning is more common among females, particularly young women, a finding echoed by research conducted elsewhere.…”