Tanning Beds Increase Melanoma Risk

Summertime.  .   .  . and the tanning is easy;  and tanning beds have made it a little TOO easy, perhaps.  A study performed by the University of Minnesota, where tanning beds are popular, shows that using them accelerates the risk for melanoma skin cancer.

While such announcements have been made before, this study, according to lead author Deann Lazovich, factored in other variables, such as length of exposure, age that tanning began, and years of exposure.  Until now, while studies have shown a link between the two, the actual cause and effect relationship between tanning beds and skin cancer could not be inconclusively established.

For the research, Lazovich and her team interviewed 1,167 people, ages 25-59 who had been diagnosed with invasive cutaneous melanoma from July 2004-December 2007.  The participants were given questionnaires, then were interviewed over the phone by researchers.

In an interview with Cancer, Edpidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention, Lazovich stated that she and her team found the risk of melanoma to be increased 74% with tanning bed use.

Other factors in the study were the types of machines used.  The study subjects all had used one of four types:  conventional, high pressure, high speed and intensity, and sun lamps.  Although the link between tanning beds was clearly established in this study, one thing that is still inconclusive is which ultraviolet light, A or B, causes the damage

Sunscreens

The news on sunscreens hasn’t been particularly positive this month, either.  The Environmental Working Group issued a statement claiming that although sunscreens do prevent sunburn, the public shouldn’t count on them to prevent damaging ultraviolet light from damaging skin and causing cancerous lesions.  The group went on to say that the Vitamin A derivatives (retinol and retinyl palmitate) found in sunscreens may actually speed up the skin cancer process.

So here we are as summer approaches knowing only one thing for certain:  we can’t be certain about anything at this point, when it comes to skin cancer and skin cancer prevention, except that tanning beds should be considered anathema.