Indoor tanning and risk of early-onset basal cell carcinoma

Monday December 19, 2011

People who use indoor tanning beds are at a significantly higher risk of developing basal cell carcinoma (BCC) before the age of 40 than people who never used indoor tanning beds, according to a recent study undertaken by researchers at Yale School of Public Health.

For the study the research team interviewed more than 750 people under the age of 40 with BCC and without. For the subjects who used indoor tanning beds, the researchers evaluated the frequency, duration, types of tanning devices used, the number of burns suffered from tanning and the age at which the person started tanning.

The investigative team determined that young people who had tanned indoors had a 69 percent increased risk of early-onset BCC. The association was strongest among women, and the risk increased with years of indoor tanning use.

The authors conclude that “indoor tanning was a strong risk factor for early-onset BCC, particularly among females. Indoor tanning should continue to be targeted by both policy-based and behavioural interventions, as the impact on BCC-associated morbidity may be substantial.”

Sources:

Ferrucci LM, Cartmel B, Molinaro AM, et al. Indoor tanning and risk of early-onset basal cell carcinoma. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Published online 12 December 2011
http://www.eblue.org/article/S0190-9622%2811%2902249-3/abstract
Yale University media release: http://yalecancercenter.org/news/latestnews.aspx#!id=9773646