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Tanning bed users more likely to examine skin for cancer
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People who used indoor tanning beds appeared more likely to check their skin for signs of cancer than those who did not tan, according to a research letter published in JAMA Dermatology.
“Although no general population-level screening guidelines exist, many U.S. medical organizations advise that individuals at an increased risk of skin cancer, including users of indoor tanning beds, may benefit from routine screening,” Kasey L. Morris, PhD, postdoctoral fellow at NCI, and colleagues wrote. “In addition, policy changes have advocated for regular skin cancer examinations in this high-risk group.”
The researchers reviewed data from the NCI’s Health Information National Trends Survey (n = 3,285; 59.6% women; mean age, 56.3 years) — conducted from January to April 2017 — which included questions about tanning bed use and cancer screening.
Morris and colleagues used multivariable logistic regression models to evaluate possible associations between indoor tanning and the use of self-examination or evaluation by a professional for skin cancer.
Overall, 3.5% of participants had used a tanning bed at least once in the previous year.
About three-quarters (75.3%) of tanning bed users had ever conducted skin cancer self-examinations compared with 55.4% of those who did not report tanning.
Although fewer participants reported having received at least one professional examination, more tanning bed users received these examinations than nonusers (60% vs. 40.1%).
Fewer than one-third (30.7%) of tanning bed users reported conducted regular self-examinations, whereas just 17.2% of nonusers performed regular self-examinations.
Slightly fewer tanning bed users than nonusers reported receiving regular professional skin cancer examinations (9.6% vs. 13.7%).
However, nearly half (48.7%) of users reported having had professional examinations, although not regularly, compared with slightly more than a quarter of nonusers (25.8%).
An adjusted model showed that tanning bed users had a greater likelihood to have performed a self-examination (OR = 2.6; 95% CI, 1.03-6.53) and to have had a professional examination (OR = 3.28; 95% CI, 1.26-8.52) than nonusers.
Thirty-eight participants reported having had melanoma. Nearly all of these (n = 37; 97.4%) reported conducting self-examinations, and 92.1% (n = 35) reported having a professional examination. Only one reported using a tanning bed in the previous year.
Among all participants who reported having had radiation therapy for any cancer diagnosis, most (n = 105; 71.9%) reported conducting self-examinations and more than half (n = 78; 54.5%) reported having professional examinations.
The researchers acknowledged the study was limited by the fact that the survey did not gather information about skin type or establish a timeframe in which examinations had been conducted.
“Future research is needed to monitor relative frequency and type of skin cancer examinations undertaken by high-risk groups and to gauge the effect of policy changes on the behavior of indoor UV-tanning device users,” Morris and colleagues wrote. – by Andy Polhamus
Disclosure s: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.
Perspective
Back to TopThis is an interesting study by Morris and colleagues. The survey asked questions about indoor tanning salon use in the last year, whether users ever checked their skin for signs of cancer or whether they ever have their skin examined by a health professional for skin cancer. Of respondents, 3.5% used tanning salons in the past year, of whom one-third reported performing self-skin exams regularly, but only 10% had regular professional skin exams. The study concluded that respondents who engaged in indoor tanning salons appeared more likely to have their skin evaluated either by professionals or themselves than those that did not using tanning salons. This survey is interesting and likely is a reflection of the public perception and increased awareness of the significant risk for skin cancers associated with indoor tanning salon use. As more legislation, policy, education and advocacy continues regarding the risks of tanning and for skin cancer, hopefully, rates of indoor tanning will decrease and screening with self and professional examinations will increase to identify precancers or skin cancers earlier.
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