Many people are not aware of the dangers of indoor tanning for their skin. There are three different types of skin cancer. There is the Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC), the Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC), and Melanoma, which is the most famous one. The abnormal growth of skin cells (skin cancer) is not a single disease.
Most cancer-related death are associated with Melanoma
For this reason, this type of skin cancer has been the subject of much research. However, melanoma is still the least common of all types.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma or SCC is the most dangerous one of the other two major skin cancer types. Scientists know that there is a connection between the development of SCC and exposure to UV radiation (e.g. sun exposure, tanning beds, etc.). In a recent study, they’ve also found out that the frequency of indoor tanning use dramatically increases the risk of SCC.
About Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Squamous Cell Carcinoma is a slow-developing type of skin cancer that usually appears in parts of the body that are frequently exposed to the sun. These include:
- Face
- Ears
- Neck
- Chest
- Upper back
- Arms
- Hands
Like most skin cancer types, when SCC is discovered early it can be treated successfully. The problems occur when cancer spreads to the nearby tissues, such as lymph nodes and bones.
Indoor tanning significantly increases the risk of SCC development
Other risk factors include:
- Fair skin
- Red or blonde hair
- Older age
- Sun exposure
- Radiation exposure
You can help the early diagnosis of SCC by checking your skin for small and unusual bumps, or small patches of red and scaly skin that may become itchy or bleed easily.
The most common, and highly effective, treatment for SCC is the surgical removal of the affected part of the skin. The incision is usually very small and requires only a few stitches.
People who develop SCC once in their lifetime are likely to get it again. So, extra care and regular check-ups are advised.
Dangers of Indoor Tanning for your skin and SCC
A 15 year-long study, about the effects of indoor tanning and the increased risk of SCC on 159,419 women from Australia, the United States, and Norway had some revealing results.
Medical records of the participants, as well as other important data, were considered. Important factors, such as natural skin color, presence of freckles, hair color, smoking status, and the annual number of sunburns were also observed.
Researchers were mostly interested in the indoor tanning habits of the participants. Based on the collected data, they could found out the total number of tanning sessions, the period during which the sessions took place, and the age of the participants at the first session.
The Results
The length of exposure to UV radiation and the age at the first tanning session does not seem to increase the risk of SCC. However, the number of tanning sessions does. Researchers concluded that the higher total number of indoor tanning sessions strongly correlates with the increased risk of SCC.
During the study, 597 participants developed SCC
The results show that the risk of SCC is 83% higher for those participants who have used indoor tanning the most amount of times, compared to the participant who did not use it at all.
This demonstrates the need to raise awareness about the negative effects of indoor tanning. It is also necessary to implement stronger regulation in this area, perhaps even to the point of making indoor tanning illegal.
The Final Word
Indoor tanning does increase the risk of skin cancer. This is a well-established fact. You are increasing this risk every time you use a tanning bed. According to what we know now, the duration of tanning sessions is not a significant factor. Therefore, the best way to go is not to use indoor tanning at all and avoid any unnecessary exposure to UV radiation.
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