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Indoor tanning associated with elevated skin cancer risk in sexual minority males

Sex, sexual orientation and race/ethnicity should be factors incorporated when developing skin cancer prevention programs for youth, according to study results published in JAMA Dermatology.

Aaron J. Blashill, PhD, reviewed data from the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, particularly examining the indoor tanning habits of sexual minorities.

Sexual minority status was defined as nonheterosexual identity or sexual history with a member of their own sex. Of the 10,644 participants of the behavior survey, Blashill identified 1,240 sexual minority participants (886 females and 354 males).

There was a main effect of sex in black participants (OR = 2.63; 95% CI, 1.03-6.61; P = .04) and a main effect of sexual orientation (OR = 4.48; 95% CI, 2.5-8; P < .001), in which sexual minorities and males reported elevated indoor tanning. Hispanic participants had a main effect of sexual orientation (OR = 3.92; 95% CI, 1.78-8.63; P < .001), with sexual minorities reporting elevated indoor tanning.

Sexual minority status was a risk factor within males (OR = 3.17; 95% CI, 1.31-7.66; P = .001). In females, sexual minority status was a buffer variable (OR = 0.41; 95% CI, 0.24-0.73; P < .001).

“Clinicians working with sexual minority males, particularly males of color, should consider assessing use of indoor tanning during routine evaluations. Future research would benefit from exploring motivations to tan among diverse groups of adolescents, as varied motives may drive sexual minorities’ use indoor tanning.” – by Talitha Bennett

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.