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Skin Cancer and Other Health Effects of Indoor Tanning

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Shedding Light on Indoor Tanning

Abstract

Research clearly demonstrates the adverse health effects of ultraviolet radiation (UV) from the sun on human skin. Among these adverse effects, photoaging and the development of skin cancer are perhaps the most clinically important. There is a large effort directed towards combating these problems and the resultant morbidity and mortality associated with them, particularly the increased risk for skin cancers. Indoor tanning provides ultraviolet radiation exposure, which is similar to that of the sun. Indoor tanning has increased dramatically over the last two decades. Unfortunately, we are finding that indoor tanning leads to similar, if not worse, adverse health effects than the sun. In this chapter, the effects of ultraviolet radiation on skin cancer development, photoaging, the immune system and other medical conditions are discussed in the context of indoor tanning.

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Abbreviations

UV:

Ultraviolet radiation

FDA:

Food and Drug Administration

BCC:

Basal cell carcinoma

SCC:

Squamous cell carcinoma

PUVA:

Psoralen and ultraviolet A light

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fox Chase Cancer Center, 333 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA

    Matthew Zook, Stuart Lessin & Clifford Perlis

Authors
  1. Matthew Zook
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  2. Stuart Lessin
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  3. Clifford Perlis
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Matthew Zook .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Cottman Avenue, Rm P4163 333, Philadelphia, 19111, Pennsylvania, USA

    Carolyn J. Heckman

  2. , The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, UMDNJ-RobertWood Johnson Medical School, Little Albany Street 195, New Brunswick, 08901, New Jersey, USA

    Sharon L. Manne

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Zook, M., Lessin, S., Perlis, C. (2012). Skin Cancer and Other Health Effects of Indoor Tanning. In: Heckman, C., Manne, S. (eds) Shedding Light on Indoor Tanning. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2048-0_6

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