Decrease in artificial tanning by French teenagers: 2011‐2016

Summary Background Exposure to artificial tanning devices is carcinogenic to humans, and government regulations to restrict or ban indoor tanning appear to be increasing. Objectives We evaluated changes in the international prevalence of indoor tanning among adolescents and adults after artificial tanning devices were classified as carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in 2009. Methods Systematic searches in PubMed and Web of Science databases were undertaken. Overall, 43 studies reporting ‘ever’ or ‘past‐year’ indoor tanning exposure after 2009 were identified. We used metaregression analysis to evaluate the prevalence of indoor tanning over time. Random effects meta‐analysis was used to summarize the prevalence of indoor tanning in adolescents and adults according to sex, region and presence of age prohibitions. Results Global prevalence of indoor tanning in adolescents for 2013–2018 was 6·5% [95% confidence interval (CI) 3·3–10·6], 70% lower than the 22·0% (95% CI 17·2–26·8) prevalence for 2007–2012. Among adults, the prevalence was 10·4% (95% CI 5·7–16·3) for 2013–2018, a decrease of 35% from 18·2% for 2007–2012. Since 2009, the overall past‐year prevalence among adolescents was 6·7% (95% CI 4·4–9·6) and 12·5% (95% CI 9·5–15·6) among adults. The prevalence of tanning indoors in the past year was similar in North America (adults, 12·5%; adolescents, 7·6%) and Europe (adults, 11·1%; adolescents, 5·1%). In 2009, three countries had regulations restricting indoor tanning, compared with 26 countries today. Conclusions Prevalence of indoor tanning has declined substantially and significantly in adolescents and adults since the 2009 IARC statement, reflecting the rise in regulations that limit this source of unnecessary exposure to carcinogenic ultraviolet radiation. What is already known about this topic? Indoor tanning is associated with an increased risk of melanoma. A meta‐analysis of worldwide indoor tanning prevalence for 1986–2012 found a past‐year prevalence of 18% in adolescents and 14% in adults, with higher prevalences during the period 2007–2012. Policies to regulate indoor tanning began to be implemented across the globe in 2009. Only one study carried out in the U.S.A. has evaluated the efficacy of such policies in reducing indoor tanning prevalence. What does this study add? For the period 2013–2018, we found indoor tanning prevalences of 6·7% in adolescents and 11·9% in adults. This implies a reduction in indoor tanning use of 70% in adolescents and 35% in adults during the last 10 years. Our study encourages policy makers to strengthen indoor tanning regulations that reduce sunbed use among the general population in order to produce maximum public health benefit.

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“…Forest plot for past‐year exposure in adults and college students. Table S1 Studies included in the meta‐analysis …”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Indoor tanning prevalence after the International Agency for Research on Cancer statement on carcinogenicity of artificial tanning devices: systematic review and meta‐analysis

et al. 2019

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“…Interestingly, there are limited publications on eye protection during suntanning sessions, and no published clinical studies evaluating the damage of the ocular surface during artificial indoor suntanning [18,19]. Considering the increase in suntanning behaviour, especially among adolescents and young adults, expanding the knowledge about potential ocular surface damage is of great importance [1,2,5]. In general, tanorexic (addicted to suntanning) people have a less healthy lifestyle and shorter life expectancy [6,8,[20][21][22][23].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Solar beds are a popular way of enhancing appearance, especially among young women with a lighter skin complexion [1][2][3]. In some regions, indoor suntanning outlets are more numerous than fast food terminals [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Damage of the ocular surface from indoor suntanning—Insights from in vivo confocal microscopy

Grupcheva

Radeva

Grupchev

et al. 2021

Contact Lens and Anterior Eye

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To evaluate the ocular surface at the microstructural level of adults who habitually undertake indoorsuntanning utilising in vivo confocal microscopy. Methods: Participants were prospectively recruited and enrolled into either а study group (n = 75) with a history UV indoor tanning, or a control group (n = 75) with no prior history of artificial tanning. The study group participated in voluntary tanning sessions performed with standard equipment and maintained their usual routine for eye protection. Slit lamp biomicroscopy and in vivo confocal microscopy were performed at baseline before undertaking a series of suntanning sessions (10 sessions of 10 min duration over a 15 day period), within three days after the last session, and four weeks after the last session. Control group participants were examined at baseline and 8 weeks later and did not participate in tanning sessions. Results: All participants were female with a mean age of 25 ± 4 years and 24 ± 4 years in the study and control groups, respectively. No clinically significant changes were observed in either group over time using slit lamp biomicroscopy (all p ≥ 0.05), however, statistically significant differences were observed between the study and the control group for all corneal layers imaged using confocal microscopy (all p ≤ 0.03). Characteristic cystic conjunctival lesions with dark centres and bright borders were observed in 95% of the study group before and in 100% after the suntanning sessions. Conclusion: Indoor suntanning resulted in statistically significant microstructural changes in the cornea and the bulbar conjunctiva that are undetectable with slit lamp biomicroscopy.

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“…42 The use of sunscreen among women has been found to be proactive and predicted by individual sun sensitivity, as opposed to in men whose sunscreen use is reactive to either an actual sunburn or a family history of skin cancer. 41,43 Gender also determines the types of clothing one wears, and hence the distribution and extent of photoexposed skin and resulting skin cancers. 47 Changes in clothing pattern between the 1970s and 2000s have resulted in an increased relative risk of developing malignant melanomas on the chest and lower extremities in women and on the lower legs in men.…”

Section: Sociology Of Gendermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The increase was most prominent in women on the trunk and legs, areas not normally exposed to UV radiation, presumably due to increased tanning bed use and travel 41 . Anti‐tanning legislation for teenagers has caused precipitous drops in tanning bed use among adolescents in the United States 42 and France 43 and may contribute to a future reduction in skin cancer risk in women.…”

Section: Sociology Of Gendermentioning

confidence: 99%

The sociological basis of the skin cancer epidemic

2022

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Given the precipitous rise in its incidence in recent decades, skin cancer has been recognized as a growing epidemic. We explore the sociological underpinnings of this epidemic, including: (1) aging of the demographic; (2) human ecologic factors (residing in areas with high ambient ultraviolet levels and a depleted ozone layer); (3) large‐scale European migration to more equatorial latitudes; (4) social structures that for centuries minimized miscegenation and maximized segregation; (5) gender‐based differences in sunbathing, tanning, sunscreen use, and clothing choice; (6) occupational ultraviolet exposure; (7) the complex interplay of socioeconomic status, race, and urbanization on skin cancer incidence and mortality; (8) the effects of war on skin cancer incidence; (9) cultural shifts in clothing, travel, outdoor sports, recreation, and attitudes towards being tan; and (10) the indirect effects of religion. We show that without these sociological factors, the most common type of cancer would not be nearly as common.

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Decrease in artificial tanning by French teenagers: 2011‐2016

Abstract: As compared to 2011, teenagers used artificial tanning methods less frequently in 2016. In particular, they used tanning beds less frequently, suggesting that the new stricter legislation has been effective.

Cited by 5 publications

References 21 publications

Indoor tanning prevalence after the International Agency for Research on Cancer statement on carcinogenicity of artificial tanning devices: systematic review and meta‐analysis

Indoor tanning prevalence after the International Agency for Research on Cancer statement on carcinogenicity of artificial tanning devices: systematic review and meta‐analysis

Damage of the ocular surface from indoor suntanning—Insights from in vivo confocal microscopy

The sociological basis of the skin cancer epidemic

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