Tanning Beds May Increase Risk of Melanoma Up To Fourfold

Christine Pitawanich / NCC News

6/2/2010

Syracuse, NY – The summer sun is shining, but bronzed beauties beware: if you’re hitting the tanning bed before the beach, you might want to reconsider. According to a new study by theAmerican Association for Cancer Research (AACR), people who tan indoors are up to four times more likely to develop Melanoma than those who don’t use tanning beds.

What is Melanoma?

Melanoma is one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer. It is the leading cause of death from skin disease and can spread to other organs in the body.

“Melanoma [is] very rapidly spreading. I don’t think there is any such thing as a healthy tan or anyone that really should tan,” said Sue Green, a Crouse Hospital RN.

“Tanning represents the skin’s response to injury; it’s trying to prevent injury to the skin so it darkens,” she continued.

New Findings

Before the study, tanning beds were only weakly associated with Melanoma. Now, the AACR’s in-depth study points to the conclusion that tanning indoors causes cancer.

Along with the new findings, the Food and Drug Administration(FDA) is considering stricter regulations, or possibly a complete ban, on tanning for teens under the age of 18. But according to the study, the age people start tanning doesn’t matter nearly as much as how often they do it.

Tanning Salons Not Too Concerned

But despite the negative attention the study brings towards indoor tanning, some salon owners aren’t expecting to see much change.

“We actually saw a mild spike in tanning this year, about 3% up,” said Dominick Barbano, owner of Garbo’s Tanning Salon.

“Truth be told, young people especially, are concerned with their appearance and It’s also a proven statement that people of color are more attractive,” he concluded.

For Barbano, it’s all about moderation.

“Listen, It’s been medically proven for decades that alcohol causes cerosis of the liver. Does that mean you’re not supposed to drink?” asked Barbano. “No, it means you’re not supposed to drop a quart of vodka every night. Apply that to tanning: if it’s in moderation, and you can tan, then it’s fine,” he said.

And many customers agree. For them, the risk is worth it.

“I don’t worry about it too much, I just don’t,” said Terri Battisto, a Garbo’s Salon customer. “It’s worth the tradeoff for me, it really is.”

Bronzing Without the Burn

There are many ways people can get that coveted tan without exposing themselves to damaging UV rays. One method is a paying around $25-$30 for a spray tan, where a salon employee airbrushes the customer by hand with bronzer.

But if you’re not willing to spend that kind of cash on temporary color, there are more affordable spray-on tanners costing around $10 a bottle.