Tanning beds are a bad idea

"Exposure to indoor tanning is common in Western countries, especially among young persons. Given the large number of skin cancer cases attributable to indoor tanning, these findings highlight a major public health issue."

These are the conclusions from a new study published this week in JAMA Dermatology.

Tanning bed use is alarmingly high especially among younger adults:

"Specifically, 35% of adults had been exposed to indoor tanning, with 14% within the past year. Exposures to indoor tanning were highest for university students: 55% had been exposed to indoor tanning, with 43% within the past year. Approximately 19% of adolescents had been exposed to indoor tanning, with 18% within the past year. Ever and past-year indoor tanning exposure was higher for women than men, as has been reported elsewhere."

To repeat, 43% of university students (in Western Europe, U.S., and Australia) reported tanning bed use within the past year. Wow. Simply wow.

In related news, the incidence of skin cancer is on the rise:

"The study, published in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings, found among white, non-Hispanic adults ages 40 to 60, the incidence of skin cancer increased 4.5-fold among men and 24-fold among women."

It doesn't take a genius to figure out there is some connection between the two:

"According to the American Cancer Society, more than 3.5 million cases of basal and squamous cell skin cancer are diagnosed each year in the U.S. In 2013, there were more than 76,600 cases of melanoma. Studies show that indoor tanning before the age of 35 increases the risk of melanoma by 59 to 79 percent and tanning before the age of 25 increases non-melanoma skin cancer risk from 40 to 100 percent."

To be more specific, one study found that "only 1 tanning bad session anytime in your life increases risk for melanoma by 20%."

Do you use a tanning bed? It is a bad idea.

Figure 1. A good way to give yourself skin cancer.