Tanning Trend Boosts Melanoma Risk Among Young Women

Melanoma, a potentially deadly form of skin cancerdefine, is on the rise among young women in the United States, thanks to prolonged sun exposure and increasing trend of tanning salons, researchers at the National Cancer Institute report.

While the incidence of melanoma reportedly remained stable among young men in America since 1980, melanoma rates have risen 50 percent among young women for the same period.

Although genetic factors contribute to the development of the most lethal form of skin cancerdefine, exposure to ultraviolet radiationdefine is the biggest risk factor. Affecting people of all races and skin tones, fair skin people are at the highest risk.

Over 20,000 cases of melanoma in people aged between 15 and 39 that were registered in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program – the 3 largest database maintained by the National Cancer Institute – were analyzed between 1973 and 2004.

An increasing trend was noticed among young women. The incidence of Melanoma rose from 5.5 cases per 100,000 per year in 1973. The rates rose to 9.4 cases per 100,000 in 1980 to 13.9 cases per 100,000 in 2004, researchers found.

However, among young men the rate of new melanoma cases reported in 1973 stood at 4.7 cases per 100,000. This figure went as high as 7.7 cases per 100,000 per year in 1980 and leveling-off thereafter.

Melanoma, a malignant tumordefine that triggers in the skin cells called melanocytesdefine, it can spread throughout the body.

Though increased sun exposure is the most important risk factor for melanoma, UV exposure at tanning salons is equally risk as sun tanning, researchers emphasize.

Meanwhile, challenging the allegations that tanning salons are linked to the increased incidence of melanoma, Sarah Longwell, a spokeswoman for the Indoor Tanning Association remarked, "For people to talk about indoor tanning as a cause of melanoma shows they haven't looked at the science on the subject. It's shocking to make such a claim. There has been no scientific studies that show that indoor tanning causes melanoma."

Acknowledging that increase in diagnoses may be the result of better screening programs, Longwell added, "It's almost a reckless claim. It's an overt effort to slander the indoor tanning industry."

People can significantly cut their general risk of developing melanoma by decreasing exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.

• Staying indoors during the midday hours (10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.), wearing protective clothes like, full sleeves shirt, trousers and a hat.
• Using daily sunscreen with a SPF of 15 and above that provides protection against both UVA and UVB.
• Avoid sunbathing and tanning salons. Studies suggest that artificial sources of UV rays such as tanning beds and lamps are just as dangerous as prolonged exposure to sun.
• Get your skin examined, at last once a year, from trained health professionals.