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New website, text alerts aim to help young women avoid skin cancer

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With help from a multi-year American Cancer Society grant, Leah Ferrucci, PhD, is helping educate young women on skin cancer and the dangers of tanning through the creation of a new website and text/e-mail alert system.

Ferrucci, a Yale University researcher, decided to reach out to young women with a multimedia approach, offering interactive experiences meant to teach users about the dangers of tanning, according to a research update from the American Cancer Society.

“Ferrucci believes that messages about the appearance issues that indoor tanning causes earlier on in life may be more effective than solely focusing on skin cancer outcomes that can occur further in the future,” the update stated.

The website will also feature skincare tips, as well as suggestions for alternatives to indoor tanning.

The pilot program will be focused on young women between the ages of 20 and 30; however, Ferrucci hopes to eventually have the website be open to anyone.

Reference: Mendes E. Helping young women turn away from tanning. American Cancer Society website. Available at: http://www.cancer.org/research/acsresearchupdates/skincancer/helping-young-women-turn-away-from-tanning. Published May 22, 2014.