Indoor tanning is a known carcinogen. Indoor tanning uses a UV emission device to produce a cosmetic tan. It causes skin cancer and other harmful effects to the skin. All forms of skin cancers are triggered by the artificual UV radiation: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell caricnoma, melanoma and others.
The World Health Organization has classified indoor tanning as a carcinogen, which means it can cause cancer in humans. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has also classified it as a Group 1 carcinogen, which means that there is sufficient evidence that indoor tanning can cause cancer in humans.
This is because exposure to UV radiation from this process increases the risk of developing melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers by at least 75%.
Epidemiological study on indoor tanning and skin cancers
An interesting article about indoor tanning was published. It was titled, International Prevalence of Indoor Tanning A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
It is a meta-analysis of more than 490 000 participants and 88 studies from 16 countries. The researchers found that indoor tanning is very popular.
The researchers found that:
The majority of university students and approximately one in five adolescents have been exposed to indoor tanning and this statistic is alarming. This is significant, as the risk of melanoma and NMSC is highest in those exposed to indoor tanning in early life.
450,000 new cases of skin cancer are attributable to indoor tanning each year. This is alarming, as the number of skin cancer cases arising from indoor tanning is higher than the number of lung cancer cases due to smoking in the same regions.
The researchers concluded that,
“Our findings suggest that exposure to indoor tanning is common in Western countries, especially among young persons. This is especially concerning because the risk of melanoma and NMSC is highest in those exposed to indoor tanning in early life. Indoor tanning is a major public health problem, accounting for nearly half a million new cancer diagnoses each year. It is time to open the debate about and pursue additional research into appropriate and effective policy and prevention strategies with the potential to significantly reduce skin cancer risks.”
Real life signficance
While some people might argue that the risk of getting skin cancer from indoor tanners is low, we should note that most people who get melanoma are not actively tanning.
Tanning bed use increases skin cancer rates in those already at risk. Melanoma rates increased among people who used a tanning bed between the ages of 18 and 29 prior to the age of 30. One in five adolescents and university students are exposed to UV radiation from indoor tanning. This age group is more susceptible to developing skin cancer.
Tanning beds foster a false sense of security about skin cancer prevention. Tanning beds are dangerous because they are marketed as a safe way to darken your skin, which will make you think that you’re being protected from the risk of melanoma. This doesn’t help prevent skin cancer or provide protection from UV radiation, though. Indoor tanning can cause permanent skin damage. Many individuals continue to tan despite the risk of damage, unaware that they are causing long-term and irreparable harm. In fact, it increases your chance of developing a skin cancer. It is simply not safe.
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If you notice any new spots, it is important that you seek medical advice promptly. Remember, early detection may save your life. The best way to detect early skin cancers is to be able to detect new and abnormal skin spots. Please follow our Facebook to see one new skin cancer image every day. These are skin cancer images taken at the Eastwood Skin Cancer Clinic. It may help you to spot a skin cancer.
