Use of Sunbeds or Sunlamps and Malignant Melanoma in Southern Sweden

Abstract

In a population-based, matched case-control study from the South Swedish Health Care Region, which has the highest risk for melanoma in Sweden, the relation between the use of sunbeds or sunlamps and malignant melanoma was investigated. Between July 1, 1988, and June 30, 1990, a total of 400 melanoma patients and 640 healthy controls aged 15-75 years answered a comprehensive questionnaire containing different epidemiologic variables. Questions regarding the use of sunbeds or sunlamps were included. The odds ratio for developing malignant melanoma after ever having used sunbeds or sunlamps was 1.3. Considering all age groups, the odds ratio was significantly elevated after exposure more than 10 times a year to sunbeds or sunlamps (odds ratio (OR) = 1.8). When the study was restricted to patients and controls younger than age 30 years because the use of tanning devices is much more common among young persons, the odds ratio was higher (OR = 7.7 for more than 10 times a year vs. none). These findings were independent of constitutional factors and factors regarding sun exposure. A dose-response relation was evident. Furthermore, among melanoma patients in this young age group, the ratio of females to males was significantly higher than in older patients. When different melanoma presentation sites were considered, only lesions of the trunk were significantly associated with sunbed or sunlamp use (OR = 4.2 for more than 10 times a year vs. none).

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“…The present results are in accordance with our previous results from South Sweden (Westerdahl et al, 1994), as well as results from Scotland (Swerdlow et al, 1988), Canada (Walter et al, 1990), and Belgium, France and Germany (Autier et al, 1994). All these studies have mainly come from areas with relatively low ambient UV radiation.…”

“…Previous studies have shown similar results (Chen et al, 1998;Swerdlow et al, 1988;Walter et al, 1990;Westerdahl et al, 1994). These findings may not be surprising since sunbed use is particularly common in teenagers and young adults (Boldeman et al, 1996) and the high OR might then be due to the high exposure in this age group per se.…”

“…In the multivariate analyses conditional logistic regression was used. The multivariate models included adjustments for hair colour, number of raised naevi, skin reaction to sun exposure (skin type) and number of sunburns, which were important risk factors identified in this case-control study as well as in our previous study (Westerdahl et al, 1994). The inclusions of other constitutional factors, other sun exposure variables and/or socioeconomic factors into the multivariate models were found to give no further significant contribution to the chosen model.…”

“…Some studies, including a previous study from us, have pointed out a significant association between sunbed or sunlamp use and melanoma (Swerdlow et al, 1988;Walter et al, 1990;Autier et al, 1994;Westerdahl et al, 1994). In another study only limited evidence of a relation was found (Chen et al, 1998).…”

Non-solar ultraviolet radiation and the risk of basal and squamous cell skin cancer

“…Beral et al (1982) and Walter et al (1992) reported increased risks of melanoma amongst workers exposed to fluorescent lighting. Swerdlow et al (1988), Walter et al (1990) and Westerdahl et al (1994 found significantly elevated risks of cutaneous melanoma associated with sunlamp use. Elwood et al (1986) found a significantly increased risk of cutaneous melanoma amongst workers exposed to light from welding torches, printing lights and other sources of ultraviolet light.…”