The Dangers of Indoor Tanning

Skin Cancer Awareness Month

May 2013

What is indoor tanning?Tanning beds and tanning booths are devices which emit ultra-violet radiation in order to produce a tan without the need for direct exposure to sunlight

Tanning Booth

Source: Beax

Tanning BedSource: Tristanb

Who uses indoor tanning facilities?• According to the CDC’s 2011 Youth Risk

Behavior Surveillance System:– 21% of all high school girls– 32% of all girls in the 12th grade– 29% of all Caucasian high school girls

• According to the 2010 National Health Interview Survey, 32% of non-Hispanic white women aged 18–21 reported using indoor tanning facilities an average of 28 times/yr. 1

Source: CarolinaBlog

MYTH vs. FACT

Source: Belfuis

“Indoor tanning is a safe way to get vitamin D.”

• Contrary to popular belief, artificial tanning is not a safe or necessary way to increase systemic vitamin D levels.

MYTH:

• Vitamin D can be more safely obtained through oral supplementation. 2

Vitamin B supplements

Source: Ragesoss

• Patrons of tanning salons routinely receive 4.5 to 7 times the UVB radiation needed for vitamin D synthesis.

“A base tan will protect skin from further damage.”

• A “base tan,” or pre-vacation tanning, is not an effective way to protect against sunburn or skin damage.

MYTH:

• The false notion that a base tan offers protection leads to decreased sun precautions during vacations.2,3

• A tan from a sun bed provides virtually no sun protection.

Source: MagnusManske

“Indoor tanning is safer than tanning in the sun.”

• The tanning industry inaccurately claims indoor tanning is safer because tanning beds and booths regulate UV exposure with a timer.1

• However, the mere presence of a tan means damage has been done to the skin.

MYTH:

THE DANGERS OF EXPOSURE

Source: AnonMoos

Indoor Tanning Nearly Doubles the Risk of Developing Melanoma

• Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer

• Exposure to UV radiation, either from sunlight or indoor tanning devices, is the most important, avoidable known risk factor for skin cancer.4

Melanoma on the skinSource: Jmh649

Indoor Tanning During Teens Years and Early 20s & the link to Melanoma

• UV radiation exposure is a known cause of skin cancer, and exposure during childhood/adolescence increases risk for melanoma diagnoses as an adult.5

• People who used tanning facilities before the age of 35 increased their risk of melanoma by 75%.6

Tanning bed in useSource: Gobonobo

Tanning Beds Classified as“Carcinogenic to Humans”

• The IARC raised the classification of tanning facilities to the highest level of cancer risk – Group 1 – “carcinogenic to humans,” the same level as asbestos and arsenic. 6

• Health organizations around the globe have recommended minors under the age of 18 not use tanning facilities.7

Source: MagnusManske

American Cancer SocietyCancer Action Network’s Position

• ACS CAN supports legislation prohibiting minors under age18 from using tanning facilities.

• ACS CAN will work to ensure all tanning facilities are regulated and consumers are properly informed of the risks.

Wake up! Bedtime is Over!

Take the No Tan Pledge at ACSCAN.org/WA

Pledge never to use tanning devices during your lifetime.

Then, forward the link to your friends and family.

1.http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/basic_info/indoor_tanning.htm2. Levine J, Sorace M, Spencer J, Siegel DM. The indoor UV tanning industry: A review of skin cancer risk, health benefit claims, and regulation. JAAD, 2005;53:1038-44).3. Miyamura Y et al. The deceptive nature of UVA tanning versus the modest protective effects of UVB tanning on human skin. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2010 Oct 6; [e-pub ahead of print].4. Lazovich D, et al. Indoor Tanning and Risk of Melanoma: A Case Control Study in a Highly Exposed Population. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prev 19(6):1557-68.5. The International Agency for Research on Cancer Working Group. The association of use of sunbeds with cutaneous malignant melanoma and other skin cancers: A systematic review. International Journal of Cancer. 2006. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ijc.22453 6. Fatiha El Ghissassi, Robert Baan, Kurt Straif, Yann Grosse Beatrice Secretan, Veronique Bouvard, Lamia Benbrahim-Tallaa, Neela Guha, Crystal Freeman, Laurent Galichet, Vincent Cogliano and on behalf of the WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer Monograph Workgroup. A review of human carcinogens – Part D: radiation. The Lancet Oncology. 2009; 10(8): 751-752. 7. WHO (2003). Artificial tanning sunbeds – risks and guidance, Geneva, World Health Organization. ICNIRP (2004). Guidelines on limits of exposure to ultraviolet radiation of wavelengths between 180 nm and 400 nm (incoherent optical radiation). Health Physics, 87; 171-186. National Toxicology Program (2002). Report on Carcinogens, 10th Edition, Substances Profiles, National Toxicology Program, Research Triangle Park, NC. National Radiation Protection Board (NRPD) (2002). Statement by the advisory group on non-ionizing radiation, use of sunbed and cosmetic tanning. In: Health Effects from Ultraviolet Radiation, 13: 279-282. Australian Cancer Network Melanoma Guidelines Revision Working Party. Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Melanoma in Australia and New Zealand. Cancer Council Australia and Australian Cancer Network, Sydney and New Zealand Guidelines Group, Wellington (2008). EUROSKIN. WHO Workshop. Recommendations on Sunbeds (May 2000), Hamburg, Germany. http://www.euroskin.eu/downloads/sunbedseuroskin.pdf

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