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Gay, bisexual men more likely to use indoor tanning, report skin cancer

Gay and bisexual men had approximately twice the odds of reporting a history of skin cancer and were more likely to have used indoor tanning when compared with heterosexual men, according to recently published study results.

Researchers reviewed data from the 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2009 California Health Interview Surveys (CHISs) and the 2013 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) for a population-based sample of the California and United States civilian population. The study included 192,575 men and women aged 18 years and older who identified as heterosexual or sexual minority (homosexual, gay, lesbian or bisexual).

Self-reported lifetime history of skin cancer, including nonmelanoma skin cancer, melanoma or an unknown skin cancer type, and 12-month history of using an indoor tanning device were primary outcomes.

There were 78,487 heterosexual men, 3,083 sexual minority men, 107,976 heterosexual women and 3,029 sexual minority included in the study.

Sexual minority men were more likely to report having skin cancer (2001-2005 CHISs: adjusted OR = 1.56; 95% CI, 1.18-2.06; NHIS: aOR = 2.13; 95% CI, 1.14-3.96) and having tanned indoors (2009 CHIS: aOR = 5.8; 95% CI, 2.9-11.6; NHIS: aOR = 3.16; 95% CI, 1.77-5.64) compared with heterosexual men.

Compared with heterosexual women, sexual minority women reported fewer nonmelanoma skin cancers (2001-2005 CHIS: aOR = 0.56; 95% CI, 0.37-0.86) and less indoor tanning (2009 CHIS: aOR = 0.43; 95% CI, 0.2-0.92; 2013 NHIS: aOR = 0.46; 95% CI, 0.26-0.81).

“This study indicates that skin cancer prevalence and indoor tanning behaviors vary by sexual orientation among men and women, the researchers wrote. “In this population-based, representative study … we found that sexual minority men had approximately twice the odds of reporting a history of skin cancer, including both [nonmelanoma skin cancer] and melanoma, compared with heterosexual men. These differences persisted even after controlling for history of immunosuppression, which included HIV infection status.

“Targeted prevention efforts focused on the dangers of indoor tanning and early detection of skin cancer may help reduce the burden of skin cancer among sexual minority men,” the researchers concluded. — by Bruce Thiel

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.