NEW YORK, NY, April 1, 2002 - The use of tanning devices has now been more clearly linked than ever to the two most common forms of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), according to an article in the latest issue of Sun & Skin News, a publication of The Skin Cancer Foundation.
Researchers at Dartmouth Medical School in Lebanon, NH, interviewed 603 BCC and 293 SCC patients (plus 540 healthy subjects) about their sunbed and sunlamp use, their history of sun exposure, and other skin cancer risk factors. With all factors accounted for, tanning device users had 2.5 times the risk of SCC and 1.5 times the risk of BCC, compared to non-users.
"Our study suggests that tanning lamp use may increase the incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancers," says lead author Margaret R. Karagas, PhD. "Further research is needed to determine an appropriate public health response."
Previous studies have shown that people exposed to full-body tanning salon sessions have a significant increase in skin repair proteins typically associated with sun damage, and that women who frequent tanning parlors have a greater incidence of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.
The Skin Cancer Foundation, the only national and international organization concerned solely with cancers of the skin, conducts public and medical education programs and provides support for research and professional training to reduce the incidence, morbidity, and mortality of skin cancers.