The Dark Side of Indoor Tanning to Prevent Outdoor Sunburns

Why our patients should take a dim view of this notion

Many studies have found an association between tanning bed exposure and increased risk for melanoma, but users often cite the desire to acquire a “base tan” to decrease the likelihood of sunburn on subsequent sun exposure and prevent skin cancer. If this reasoning is valid, indoor tanners who have not had sunburns would have a reduced melanoma rate. Investigators compared melanoma incidence in 1857 indoor tanners and never–indoor tanners (controls) stratified by the number of outdoor sunburns; those who had had sunbed-induced burns were excluded.

Indoor tanners had increased melanoma risk compared to controls regardless of sunburn history (adjusted odds ratio, 3.87; 95% confidence interval, 1.68–8.91; P=0.02), even after adjustments were mad…

Reviewing Author

Craig A. Elmets, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board Astellas Pharmaceuticals

EquityVaxin

Grant / Research support NIH; NIH/NCI; Veteran’s Administration; Ferndale Laboratories; Kyowa Hakko Kirin Pharma, Inc.

Editorial boards Cancer Prevention Research; Photodermatology, Photoimmunology, & Photomedicine; UpToDate; eMedicine; Journal of Dermatological Sciences; JAMA Dermatology

Leadership positions in professional societies American Academy of Dermatology (Vice Chair, Committee on Science and Research); Photomedicine Society (Board of Directors)