Skip to main content
Log in

The urgent need to ban youth indoor tanning: evidence from college undergraduates

  • Commentary/Position Paper
  • Published:
Translational Behavioral Medicine

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

References

  1. ACS. (2016). Cancer facts & figures 2016. Atlanta: American Cancer Society.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Guy Jr., G. P., Thomas, C. C., Thompson, T., Watson, M., Massetti, G. M., & Richardson, L. C. (2015). Vital signs: melanoma incidence and mortality trends and projections—United States, 1982-2030. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep, 64(21), 591–596.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Watson, M., Geller, A. C., Tucker, M. A., Guy Jr., G. P., & Weinstock, M. A. (2016). Melanoma burden and recent trends among non-Hispanic whites aged 15-49 years, United States. Prev Med, 91, 294–298.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. Mitsis DKL, Groman A, Beaupin LM, et al. Trends in demographics, incidence, and survival in children, adolescents and young adults (AYA) with melanoma: a Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) population-based analysis. Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. 2015;33 (suppl; abstr 9058).

  5. Lazovich, D., Vogel, R. I., Berwick, M., Weinstock, M. A., Anderson, K. E., & Warshaw, E. M. (2010). Indoor tanning and risk of melanoma: a case-control study in a highly exposed population. Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology, 19(6), 1557–1568.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Zhang, M., Qureshi, A. A., Geller, A. C., Frazier, L., Hunter, D. J., & Han, J. (2012). Use of tanning beds and incidence of skin cancer. Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, 30(14), 1588–1593.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Reed, K. B., Brewer, J. D., Lohse, C. M., Bringe, K. E., Pruitt, C. N., & Gibson, L. E. (2012). Increasing incidence of melanoma among young adults: an epidemiological study in Olmsted County, Minnesota. Mayo Clin Proc, 87(4), 328–334.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. El Ghissassi, F., Baan, R., Straif, K., et al. (2009). A review of human carcinogens—part D: radiation. The Lancet Oncology, 10(8), 751–752.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Working Group on Artificial Ultraviolet (UV) Light and Skin Cancer IAfRoC. (2007). The association of use of sunbeds with cutaneous malignant melanoma and other skin cancers: a systematic review. International journal of cancer Journal international du cancer, 120(5), 1116–1122.

    Google Scholar 

  10. AIM. Tanning legislation in 2016. 2016; https://www.aimatmelanoma.org/global-advocacy-and-engagement/melanoma-legislation/tanning-legislation-in-2016/, 2016.

  11. Wehner, M. R., Chren, M. M., Nameth, D., et al. (2014). International prevalence of indoor tanning: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA dermatology, 150(4), 390–400.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Brewer, J., McQuinn, D., Lohse, C., & Hassani, J. (2015). Tanning bed perception survey: a questionnaire-based study. The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology, 8(3), 23–27.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Neenan, A., Lea, C. S., & Lesesky, E. B. (2012). Reasons for tanning bed use: a survey of community college students in North Carolina. N C Med J, 73(2), 89–92.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Dwyer, L. A., Shepperd, J. A., & Stock, M. L. (2015). Predicting avoidance of skin damage feedback among college students. Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, 49(5), 685–695.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Heckman, C. J., Manne, S. L., Kloss, J. D., Bass, S. B., Collins, B., & Lessin, S. R. (2011). Beliefs and intentions for skin protection and UV exposure in young adults. Am J Health Behav, 35(6), 699–711.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Hillhouse, J., Turrisi, R., Holwiski, F., & McVeigh, S. (1999). An examination of psychological variables relevant to artificial tanning tendencies. J Health Psychol, 4(4), 507–516.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Services USDoHaH. The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent Skin Cancer. 2014; http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/calls/prevent-skin-cancer/exec-summary.html.

  18. Pan, M., & Geller, L. (2015). Update on indoor tanning legislation in the United States. Clin Dermatol, 33(3), 387–392.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. NCSL. Indoor tanning restrictions for minors: a state-by-state comparison. 2016; http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/indoor-tanning-restrictions.aspx. Accessed December 12, 2016, 2016.

  20. Lowry B. From drones to tanning beds: 11 new Kansas laws. 2016; http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article86828587.html. Accessed December 20, 2016, 2016.

  21. Guy Jr., G. P., Berkowitz, Z., Jones, S. E., et al. (2014). State indoor tanning laws and adolescent indoor tanning. Am J Public Health, 104(4), e69–e74.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Guy Jr., G. P., Berkowitz, Z., Tai, E., Holman, D. M., Everett Jones, S., & Richardson, L. C. (2014). Indoor tanning among high school students in the United States, 2009 and 2011. JAMA dermatology., 150(5), 501–511.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  23. FDA U. FDA proposes new safety measures for indoor tanning devices. 2015; http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm350790.htm. Accessed December 6, 2016, 2016.

  24. Guy GP, Jr., Zhang Y, Ekwueme DU, Rim SH, Watson M. The potential impact of reducing indoor tanning on melanoma prevention and treatment costs in the United States: an economic analysis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016.

  25. Zeller, S., Lazovich, D., Forster, J., & Widome, R. (2006). Do adolescent indoor tanners exhibit dependency? J Am Acad Dermatol, 54(4), 589–596.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Quinn, M., Alamian, A., Hillhouse, J., Scott, C., Turrisi, R., & Baker, K. (2015). Prevalence and correlates of indoor tanning and sunless tanning product use among female teens in the United States. Prev Med Rep, 2, 40–43.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Lostritto, K., Ferrucci, L. M., Cartmel, B., et al. (2012). Lifetime history of indoor tanning in young people: a retrospective assessment of initiation, persistence, and correlates. BMC Public Health, 12, 118.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  28. CDC. Youth risk behavior survey questionnaire. 2011; https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/faq.htm. Accessed December 8, 2016, 2016.

  29. Mayer, J. A., Hoerster, K. D., Pichon, L. C., Rubio, D. A., Woodruff, S. I., & Forster, J. L. (2008). Enforcement of state indoor tanning laws in the United States. Prev Chronic Dis, 5(4), A125.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  30. Grewal, S. K., Haas, A. F., Pletcher, M. J., & Resneck Jr., J. S. (2013). Compliance by California tanning facilities with the nation’s first statewide ban on use before the age of 18 years. J Am Acad Dermatol, 69(6), 883–889 e884.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Forster, J. L., Lazovich, D., Hickle, A., Sorensen, G., & Demierre, M. F. (2006). Compliance with restrictions on sale of indoor tanning sessions to youth in Minnesota and Massachusetts. J Am Acad Dermatol, 55(6), 962–967.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Harris, K., Vanderhooft, L., Burt, L., Vanderhooft, S., & Hull, C. (2012). Tanning business practices in Salt Lake County, Utah. J Am Acad Dermatol, 66(3), 513–514.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Bulger, A. L., Mayer, J. E., Gershenwald, J. E., Guild, S. R., Gottlieb, M. A., & Geller, A. C. (2015). Enforcement provisions of indoor tanning bans for minors: an analysis of the first 6 US states. Am J Public Health, 105(8), e10–e12.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  34. Stanganelli, I., Naldi, L., Falcini, F., et al. (2016). Parental use and educational campaigns on sunbed use among teenagers and adolescents. Medicine, 95(11), e3034.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  35. Guy Jr., G. P., Tai, E., & Richardson, L. C. (2011). Use of indoor tanning devices by high school students in the United States, 2009. Prev Chronic Dis, 8(5), A116.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  36. Basch, C. H., Basch, C. E., Rajan, S., & Ruggles, K. V. (2014). Use of sunscreen and indoor tanning devices among a nationally representative sample of high school students, 2001-2011. Prev Chronic Dis, 11, E144.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Throughout the study, Casey L. Daniel was supported by NCI grant R25 CA057711 (G Sorensen, Principal Investigator).We are indebted to the three participating institutions and Amanda Schwartz and Maria Sofia Soto for assistance with the data collection as well as Stephen Dusza, DrPH, for assistance in the data analysis.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Casey L. Daniel PhD, MPH.

Ethics declarations

The institutional review boards of participating institutions granted the study exempt approval.

Comments to the editor

The concept for and style of this commentary piece was suggested by Translational Behavior Medicine Managing Editor, Lindsay Bullock.

Disclosure statements

The findings reported have not been previously published, and the manuscript is not being considered elsewhere. The authors have full control of all primary data and agree to allow the journal to review the data if requested.

Funding/support

The study was not funded.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Implications

Practice: Young age (e.g., high school) of indoor tanning initiation is associated with ongoing persistence and greater frequency of indoor tanning.

Policy: Policy is instrumental to discouraging and decreasing indoor tanning among youth; however, policymakers must consider potentially more stringent age restrictions and enforcement of such legislation for optimal success.

Research: Future research should explore barriers to adoption and enforcement of indoor tanning legislation, as well as observe its impact on indoor tanning initiation and persistence.

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Daniel, C.L., Hay, J.L., Welles, B.F. et al. The urgent need to ban youth indoor tanning: evidence from college undergraduates. Behav. Med. Pract. Policy Res. 7, 645–647 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13142-017-0469-1

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13142-017-0469-1

Keywords

Navigation