Tanning Beds: Risks & Prevention of Melanoma

Indoor tanning is becoming ever more popular in the last years, in spite of proof of an elevated threat of most cancers as well as, probably, non melanoma skin cancers. Tanning bed supporters mention the health advantages of vitamin D to aid indoor tanning, which includes worries that decreased vitamin D amounts or even particular Vitamin D receptor polymorphisms might be related to the higher occurrence of numerous cancers, such as cutaneous cancers. Nonetheless, many tanning equipment mainly gives off ultraviolet A, that is somewhat unproductive when it comes to revitalizing vitamin D activity.

Health advantages could be completely detached from ultraviolet exposure dangers through vitamin D supplements, though optimum amounts continue to be set up. Indoor tanning presents a preventable threat component regarding skin cancer, and knowledge of the public along with the law as well as stricter enforcement associated with indoor tanning laws is really a public health essential. Skin cancer is one of the most prevalent types of cancer, which is mainly caused by ultraviolet rays).

As such, this paper underlines how ultraviolet rays and indoor tanning result in skin cancer.

Since it entered America during the 1970s, indoor tanning equipment today help support a three billion dollar per year business (Tanning Salons in the US, 2015). In spite of a stimulating minor decrease in indoor tanning habits observed between the year 2010 and 2013, the 2013 research by the National Health Interview Survey reports that 7.8 million females as well as 1.9million males within the U.S tan indoors every year (Guy et al.

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, 2015). Further studies verify the same outcomes. The increased rate of indoor tanning in the U.S continues to be worrying in the establishment of solid proof supporting a link in the utilization of indoor tanning beds and cancers threat (Le Clair & Cockburn, 2016). The Society of Behavioral Medicine in 2009, released a position report asking for a prohibition on indoor tanning in those under eighteen in 2014, and also the American Academies of Dermatology as well as Pediatrics likewise published current research studies supporting a complete prohibition on indoor tanning in men and women beneath the age of eighteen (Schulman & Fisher, 2009).

According to Henry W. Lim (2011), nonmelanoma skin cancer incidents are continuously rising in the United States and may be approximately 3.5 million on a yearly basis. Close to 20 percent of this type of skin cancer can be attributed to Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) that is linked to the danger of metastasis and even death. Moreover, exposing the epidermis to UV radiations can lead to p53 mutations, which may also result in the growth of clonal tumors as well as SCC. The dangers tanning heads must be highlighted for people to comprehend its contribution to skin cancer. Even as the practice continues to gain popularity, it is vital to exercise caution. It is also worth noting that the occurrence of SCC heightens with age, particularly in patients who are regularly exposed to the sun. As such, the entire period of contact to sunlight is directly associated with the growth of SCC .

Skin malignancy is regarded as the prevalence of most cancers within the U.S. In the year 2009; it is approximated that there could be more than one million new incidents associated with non-melanoma skin cancer as well as about seventy thousand new incidents of melanoma skin malignancy (Clough-Gorr et al., 2010). Though melanoma is the reason for a small part of skin cancers, it is accountable for about seventy-three percent of skin cancer fatalities 2. Prevalence rates associated with both melanoma as well as non-melanoma skin cancer continue to increase in the last years, particularly in younger females. Usually, sun rays are the primary source of a human being exposed to ultraviolet rays, that is divided into UVA, UVB, as well as UVC. Several epidemiological types of research established a causal connection between sun ray’s exposure and skin cancer, and also solar radiation is categorized as “cancer-causing to human beings” by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a WHO organization which categorizes carcinogens (Armstrong & Kricker, 2001).

In the current years, indoor tanning booths have surfaced as an additional source of ultraviolet rays. The indoor tanning company has become among the fastest developing industries within the U.S, with five billion dollars in approximated yearly income 8. Supporters of the tanning business have publicized the medical advantages of stimulating vitamin D synthesis through tanning bed usage. In 2008, the tanning business released an advert within the New York Times saying that “the advantages of medium exposure to sun rays surpass the assumed dangers” and that “there is absolutely no convincing research proof that tanning leads to melanoma” (Bandi et al. 2010). Tanning bed contact before the age of thirty raises the danger of melanoma by seventy-five percent, the IARC positioned tanning beds within the greatest threat group, along with other Group one carcinogenic substance such as asbestos, tobacco, and arsenic 7.

Using indoor tanning beds is still common in spite of increasing information about it being harmful. A current study regarding teenagers discovered that twenty-eight percent of women, as well as seven percent of men, had used tanning booths frequently. Proof of link between tanning beds and the emergence of skin cancer is increasing.2-9 Tanning bed clients are ever cognizant of these dangers, though this awareness might not prevent constant usage (Knight et al. 2010). Several tanning salon clients wrongly assume that an unnatural tan prevents future sunburn and it is less dangerous as compared to tanning outside. Tanning bed clients describe feeling peaceful in indoor tanning, ten and ultraviolet tanning for regular customers might be regarded as a substance-associated condition (Harrington, 2011) Current epidemiology research have proposed a connection between tanning bed exposure and skin melanoma. Since many studies have concentrated on the “ever-use” of tanning beds, the possible connection between the degree of exposure as well as the danger of melanoma is not expounded in depth. Furthermore, past researches have usually considered just a few shocking factors, such as solar sensitivity, sunlight exposure, as well as socioeconomic position.

As portrayed by many findings, the UV radiations emanating from tanning equipment tends to damage DNA; hence, leading to non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancers. Moreover, exposing oneself to these gadgets results in premature aging, cataracts, photo-dermatoses, skin burns, ocular melanoma, and corneal burns. As technology continues to progress, new devices are used to attain certain tasks. Similarly, women, especially the youths frequently use tanning devices; hence, exposing themselves to skin cancer and other UV radiation-related conditions. With this increasing nature, preventing the issue from escalating further requires enaction of laws and regulations that ensure the same. For one, different studies have linked the increase in skin cancer among women to these devices. However, if promotions only focus on educating the women, it may not yield the anticipated results. As such, much has to be done at the state and government level to deal with this issue since it is the collective responsibility of every human being to promote a healthy environment.

In spite of these along with other attempts to minimize indoor tanning, cancer prevalence is increasing within the U.S and globally (Ting et al. 2007). This report aims highlight ideas showing the connection between indoor tanning as well as melanoma danger, and also to encourage new attempts to minimize melanoma prevalence through determining and focusing on the populations in danger of adverse effects of tanning indoors. As depicted above, it is prudent to understand the dangers posed by indoor tanning devices. Therefore, this report will strive to illustrate the adverse effects of tanning heads, while exploring some of the reasons it is popular, especially among young women.