Skin cancer cases rising, tanning salons blamed

For many teenagers across the country, tanning salons are a necessary expense in order to ensure a sun-kissed glow.

However, according to a study published in the March issue of the Archives of Dermatology, the rate of skin cancer is now rising considerably, with 3.5 million diagnoses reported in 2.1 million people in 2006.

Experts say this may be due in part to the widespread use of tanning salons.
According to a new study released by the World Health Organization, indoor tanning is as dangerous as the ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has done research showing that exposure to UV radiation from indoor tanning before the age of 35 can increase the risk of developing melanoma by 75 percent compared to those who do not use tanning beds.

One step that the Food and Drug Administration has suggested in order to prevent the number of skin cancer cases from rising further is to either ban those under the age of 18 from using tanning beds or require underage individuals to have signed consent from their parents.

The FDA also hopes to change the classification of tanning beds from a Class I medical device to either Class II or the most strictly regulated category, Class III.

The General and Plastic Surgery Devices Panel of the FDA Medical Devices Advisory Committee voted unanimously on March 25 to upgrade the FDA’s classification of tanning devices.

“We know that about one-third of teenage girls and young women in the United States use tanning beds and they average about 20 times per year,” said Boston University School of Medicine Department of Dermatology asscoiate professor Alan Geller.

“We are in the beginning of an epidemic of melanoma among young women who have used tanning beds in the past or are currently using them.”

However, he also said that not everyone is educated about the risks that tanning beds present.

“Many people are under the mistaken notion that they are safer than being out in the sun and in fact, the ultraviolet light effect of tanning beds is about three to six times greater than for natural light exposure,” Geller said. “They also do not protect against sunburn and it is important to remember that every time one tans, they are doing damage to their skin so tanning is not protective for the skin.”

In order to combat the overly prevalent use of tanning beds, the U.S. government has introduced a 10 percent excise tax on their use.

The tax was included in the newly passed health care bill and was endorsed by the Skin Cancer Foundation.

Some students at BU, like College of General Studies freshman Hayley Small, said they don’t buy into utilizing tanning salons located on campus, such as Darque Tan across from the BU West T stop.

“I think it makes you look fake,” Small said.

But CGS freshman Samantha Trachten disagreed.

“If I don’t tan before I go on vacation I burn and getting burned is more dangerous than tanning,” she said.

Although some students said they don’t like the idea of using tanning beds, not all mind tanning in general.

“I’ve never tanned in a tanning bed, but I’ve spent hours on the beach,” said Sarah Robertson, a CGS freshman. “I’ve never really been so concerned about sitting out in the sun for hours.”

However, spending too much time out in the sun can be just as dangerous as using tanning beds and is one major reason for the increase in skin cancer, Geller said.

“About one in 60 people born in the U.S. in 2010 will be diagnosed with melanoma compared with one per 1,500 in the 1930s. There are many reasons to explain this,” he said.

Two reasons were tanning bed use and too much time outdoors.

BU students said tanning has become such a major part of American culture because of the influence that media has in this country.

“Magazines have all these tan women in them and people think that is the ideal form for women,” Smalls said.

College of Arts and Sciences freshman Mijin Lee agreed.

“It’s depicted in the media that darker skin looks good,” Lee said.

Despite what the media may portray as “beautiful,” Geller emphasized that melanoma is one of the most common forms of cancer for people ages 20 to 29.

“We tell people to make sure to use sun protection on all parts of their skin exposed to the sun. So hats for the head, sunglasses and at least an SPF of 30-plus every time you go out in the sun,” Geller said. “People should avoid tanning beds and students should start getting in the habit of looking at their skin for unusual moles.”