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Young indoor tanners at higher risk for early basal cell carcinoma

Early exposure to indoor tanning was shown to increase the risk of early development of basal cell carcinoma in a population-based, case control study.

The study included 657 patients newly diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and 452 controls aged 50 years or younger who participated in the New Hampshire Skin Cancer Study.

BCC cases were identified between July 1993 to June 1995 and July 1997 to March 2000.

Researchers collected information on participants’ skin reaction to the sun after first exposure in summer, use of tanning lamps, age at first use, and other factors through personal interviews.

More participants with early-onset BCC reported having tanned indoors with a tanning lamp compared with controls. Age at first exposure to indoor tanning ranged from 10 to 49 years, with a mean age of first exposure of 26 years.  Odds ratios were elevated in those whose first exposure was before age 20 years, according to the researchers, with a 10% increase in odds ratio observed for each decrease in age of first exposure.

Among those who were younger at the time of their first exposure, a shorter time period was reported between first use of indoor tanning and diagnosis of BCC, the researchers found.

Disclosure: The authors have no relevant financial disclosures.