Tanning Beds Linked to Melanoma - Should We Worry?

A new study suggests that obsessive use of tanning beds may increase risk of developing a deadly skin cancer called melanoma. 

The study showed that men and women who tanned indoors were at a 74 percent increased risk for melanoma than those who had not.

The study was conducted by DeAnn Lazovich and colleagues from the University of Minnesota and published in the May 27 2010 issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. 

The study was based on data on melanoma cases collected in Minnesota from 2004 through 2007.  The patients were interviewed about indoor tanning.

Of 1167 people with melanoma, about two-thirds had used tanning beds or devices.  Among those who used tanning beds, the risk increased 74 percent.

The risk for melanoma was increased by 340 percent among those who use UVA ray based tanning beds.

Additionally, the researchers found the risk was particularly high among young women who may have a predilection for indoor tanning.

Some organizations wish to ban the tanning beds.  

Dr. Allan Halpern at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City was cited as saying that indoor tanning has been known to be linked to increased cancer risk.

"We also hope this additional data will motivate the FDA to expedite appropriate regulation of these devices," he was quoted by healthday.com as saying.

The Indoor Tanning Association said the current study is contradictory to what was found earlier.  John Overstreet, spokesman for the organization cited another new study by the MD Anderson Cancer Center saying UVA light does not cause melanoma.

In any case, the current study is not a clinical trial and the association does not necessarily mean that use of tanning beds would definitely increase risk of melanoma.  

UV rays are known to induce mutation and overexposure to UV rays may increase risk of cancer, which is a fact.  But this should not be something to over-worry about.  Anything can be dangerous if you are over-exposed to it, as a reader commented on USNews.com.

On the other hand, UV rays are beneficial.  They induce synthesis of vitamin D in the human body.  Researchers have warned that Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to increased risk of 17 types of cancers.  Some vitamin D experts say indoor tanning beds can be a good "vitamin D supplement".

Melanoma is diagnosed in 68,720 men and women in the United States in 2009 and the disease killed 8,650 people in the country in 2009, according to the National Cancer institute.

Tanning beds are not a medical device and they are not used to diagnose or treat any disease.  Interestingly, the Food and Drug Administration somehow has obtained the authority to regulate the manufacturers of tanning beds and has a performance standard for the equipment, according to a document by the agency.

In response to the current study, a reader commented on USNews.com that if the government wants to ban indoor tanning beds, it should first ban alcohol and tobacco.  

Alcoholic beverages are recognized by the National Toxicology Program as a cancer-causing agent and tobacco smoking has been linked to increased risk of developing lung cancer.

DL