| If you were thinking that tanning indoors was | | | | melanoma associated with indoor tanning devices |
| safer than natural sunlight, think again! Indoor | | | | is startling and somewhat disturbing. Researchers |
| tanners have a significantly higher risk of | | | | looked at over 1,000 cancer patients, diagnosed |
| developing melanoma than those who have never | | | | between 2004-2007 in Minnesota, compared to a |
| tanned indoors before. This is a startling | | | | control group randomly selected from the states |
| statement to say the least, especially when so | | | | drivers' license registry. All subjects were matched |
| many have been led to believe that the worst | | | | according to gender and age. |
| tanning is natural sunlight. The problem with | | | | The study found that any exposure to an indoor |
| studies up until now have been the inability to | | | | tanning device left participants 74% more likely to |
| adequately measure a person's outdoor sun | | | | develop melanoma than those who had never |
| exposure in contrast with indoor tanning, which | | | | tanned indoors before. These results were |
| made it difficult to determine which carried a | | | | independent of age or gender factors, in other |
| higher risk of melanoma. | | | | words your age or gender do not matter. The |
| About Melanoma | | | | one factor that did increase your chances of |
| According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, | | | | developing this dangerous form of skin cancer |
| melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin | | | | was indoor tanning frequency. Those who have |
| cancer. It is also the least common, but before | | | | 100 hours or more of tanning under their belt |
| you get to comfortable with that information, you | | | | were found to be 3 times more likely to have a |
| should know that even though it is uncommon it | | | | melanoma. |
| is the largest killer. What that means is although | | | | Conclusion |
| melanoma accounts for a mere 4% of skin | | | | At this point researchers are cautioning against |
| cancer diagnosis, it also accounts for 79% of skin | | | | any use of indoor tanning devices. The lead |
| cancer deaths. You could say that this is a small | | | | researcher for this study has gone on record as |
| but insidious form of skin cancer. | | | | saying, "there are no safe tanning devices." It is |
| One fact that is cause for great concern is that | | | | also important to note that researchers found no |
| melanoma is one of the fastest increasing skin | | | | conclusive proof that one form of tanning bed |
| cancers in the United States. There is speculation | | | | was safer than another, UVA versus UVB, |
| that the increases are due to the increased usage | | | | despite what you may have been told. There is |
| of indoor tanning devices, especially in cooler | | | | of course more room for research on this |
| states like Minnesota. | | | | disturbing trend, but until there are better |
| Indoor Tanning Risks of Melanoma | | | | numbers, it might be wise to limit or end your |
| The most recent study concerning the risks of | | | | indoor tanning sessions. |