Making an informed choice about indoor tanning

With May being Skin Cancer Awareness Month and in tandem with our event today co-hosted with the Congressional Families Cancer Prevention Program, The Hazards and Allure of Indoor Tanning Beds on College Campuses we are running a series on skin cancer. Be sure to check back daily for posts on skin cancer including how you prevent and detect it. Enjoy!

I am so pleased to have the opportunity present on behalf of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) during  “The Hazards and Allure of Indoor Tanning Beds on College Campuses” event co-hosted by Disruptive Women in Health Care and Congressional Families for Cancer Prevention of the Prevent Cancer Foundation that takes place today.  The timing of this event is particularly appropriate for us because May is designated as Skin Cancer Awareness Month by the AAD which represents over 13,500 dermatologists in the United States.

Indoor tanning and skin cancer prevention are extremely important issues that we need to continue to address as one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime.  Today, melanoma – the most serious form of skin cancer –  is the most common form of cancer for young adults 25-29 years old and the second most common form of cancer for adolescents and young adults 15-29 years old.  Melanoma is increasing faster in females 15-29 years old than males of the same age group.  The science is clear: the risk of developing melanoma increased by 59{c754d8f4a6af077a182a96e5a5e47e38ce50ff83c235579d09299c097124e52d} for individuals who have been exposed to UV radiation from indoor tanning; the risk increasing with each use.   Each year in the U.S. nearly 5 million people are treated for skin cancer, and the number of new skin cancers only continues to rise. More than 419,000 of these skin cancers are linked to indoor tanning. As a dermatologist, I see the consequences of indoor tanning and have seen too many young people diagnosed with melanoma.

For years, the AAD has been active on the federal and state level advocating for public health policy that protects Americans from the dangers of indoor tanning.  We were pleased to support the FDA’s efforts two years ago to strengthen restriction on indoor tanning devices.  Since 2.3 million teens tan indoors in the United States annually, restricting teens’ access to indoor tanning is critical to the prevention of skin cancer. The new restrictions provide a strong recommendation against the use of tanning beds by minors under the age of 18, reclassify sunlamps and tanning beds to Class II level devices (just like x-ray machines) and require labeling that clearly communicates the risk of skin cancer to all users.  Although as of today, 11 states and the District of Columbia restrict indoor tanning for minors under the age of 18, this is not enough. We must continue to raise awareness about the dangers of indoor tanning not only to those under 18, but to those young adults who are vulnerable to the allure of tanned skin through images in the media and misinformation about the safety of indoor tanning. With easy access to tanning beds either on or very close to many college campuses, far too many college women are putting themselves at increased risk for skin cancer. Through education, parents and college students alike can make informed decisions about whether a temporary tan is worth a lifetime of increased risk for melanoma. Just as cigarette use is declining in young adults, raising awareness about the long-term dangers of indoor tanning-induced skin damage will hopefully help reverse the trend of rising skin cancer in young women.

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Elizabeth Tanzi, M.D. is an internationally-known author and lecturer on cosmetic dermatology and cutaneous laser surgery.  She is the Co-Director of the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery in Washington, D.C. which was the first freestanding cosmetic laser center in the world and serves as the Secretary of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery. Dr. Tanzi has published over 50 original medical articles and chapters and has been involved with the development of several new laser systems and therapeutic techniques.  She is an annual invited speaker at the American Academy of Dermatology, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, and the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery. She actively serves as a journal reviewer for the Journal of Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, Journal of Cutaneous Laser Therapy, and The Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology and serves as an editor for Dermatologic Surgery. Throughout her career, she has received numerous honors and awards for her work in the field of dermatologic surgery.  She has been featured in many media outlets including The Today Show, Good Morning America, ABC News, NBC News, CNN, Fox News, USA Today, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Washingtonian, O Magazine, Vogue, Allure, Elle, In-Style, Self, Health, and Cosmopolitan.  She is on the Medical Advisory Board and a frequent featured guest of the Dr. Oz Show.

SOURCE: Disruptive Women in Health Care – Read entire story here.