In case you missed it, July 2009 marked a significant change in attitudes about tanning bed use. Until then, ultraviolet light was considered a probable carcinogen, or cancer causing agent. But after a review of the facts, the World Health Organization toughened its stance.
In June, scientists from nine countries met at the International Agency for Research on Cancer to study data associating tanning beds with the risk of skin cancer. Their conclusion: the use of tanning beds and sunlamps before age 18 increases the risk of melanoma skin cancer by 75%. That’s a lot! They also concluded that tanning beds increase the risk of melanoma of the eye.
These are serious issues that have received surprisingly little press. Melanomas are potentially fatal tumors. The overall incidence of melanoma has already increased from 1:1500 in the 1950’s to 1:50 today. Among Caucasian women age 15-39 the incidence of melanoma increased by 50% between 1980 and 2004. Even for the earliest detected invasive melanomas, disease-free survival 5 years after surgery is about 5%; that means up to 1 in 20 people will be dead or struggling with a recurrence within 5 years. And for melanomas in the eye survival is even bleaker, with the best outcome being alive with one eye surgically removed.
It is unthinkable that something that is placed in the highest risk group for causing cancer, a group that includes x-rays and genital warts, should be so lightly regulated.
The American Cancer Society agrees. According to Dr. Ken Lichtenfeld of the ACS, “The report firmly establishes ultraviolet radiation as a human carcinogen”. He goes on to say, “Young women in particular are the heaviest users of tanning beds, and are at the greatest risk of causing harm to themselves. This report also puts to rest the argument that tanning with UVA light is safe”.
The first priority of the World Health Organization is to restrict the use of tanning beds by those under 18.
Now, there is another dark side to tanning bed use. Not only does ultraviolet light cause cancer, it is also the cause of some of the most obvious signs of aging. A young woman with smooth, evenly toned, wrinkle-free skin who goes to a tanning bed is signing up for age spots, crows feet and other wrinkles, large prominent pores that become blackheads, and lax skin that sags below the bony eye orbit and jawline. Nice!
Just because you are over 18 doesn’t mean you can tan safely. Cancer risk from ultraviolet light is cumulative; that means that the risk goes up the more you are exposed. “Pre-tanning” before a vacation, or “only tanning before the prom”, or “I don’t burn myself in the tanning bed, so it’s OK” are all just justifications for increasing your total exposure to a known carcinogen. Just say no!