The Skin Cancer Foundation Journal

MAY 2014

The 2012 edition of The Skin Cancer Foundation Journal features medically reviewed, reader-friendly articles such as tanning, the increasing incidence of skin cancer diagnoses among young women, & the prevalence of melanoma among white males over 50.

Issue link: https://skincancer.epubxp.com/i/319518

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International Ultraviolet Exposure: a Key Risk Factor C learly, increased sun exposure and tanning bed exposure have been signifcant in the skin cancer in- creases. The entire ultraviolet (UV) spectrum, from both the sun and indoor tanning devices, has been implicated as carcinogenic for hu- mans. 3 A history of intermittent sun exposure leading to sunburn, multiple sunburn episodes, cumulative sun expo- sure and sunbed use all play a major role in skin cancers. 4 Particularly in childhood, sun exposure leading to sunburns can greatly increase the risk of melanoma in later life. 5 Just one indoor tanning session increases users' chances of developing melanoma by 20 percent, and each additional session during the same year boosts the risk almost another two percent. 6 This risk is doubled if tanning is started before the age of 35 years. It is estimated that at least 100 melanoma deaths per year in the UK are attributable to sunbed use. 7 Increased health awareness, skin cancer surveillance and early detection play a partial role as well in the rising inci- dence, and that is actually a positive development; people are checking their skin for lesions more carefully, seeing physicians for professional skin exams more often, and thus fnding skin cancers at an earlier stage, when they are more readily treatable. However, a large proportion of the rise in incidence is caused by excessive sun exposure and sunbed exposure. In a recent study, awareness of skin cancer risks, sun-protective behaviour, and level of concern were found to be lower among Scots than Australians, even though both have similarly vulnerable (largely Celtic) skin types and a comparable risk of developing melanoma. 8 Dangerous Practices S tudies have shown that Scots are practicing a number of unsafe behaviours in the sun that are increasing their risk of skin cancers. A recent survey by Macmillan Can- cer Support revealed that 46 percent of Scottish people deliberately burn their skin in the sun to 'deepen' a tan – despite the fact that the average Scot's type I skin is not truly capable of tanning. The poll also showed that young people (aged 18-35) were more than twice as likely as their parents (aged 55+) to believe that burning in the sun will result in quicker tanning. 9 Another study estimated that over an 8-year period, about 1,850 visits to emergency departments by children in Scot- land were for sunburn treatment. This of course represented only the tip of the iceberg, since the majority of sunburns are treated at home. 10 Anoth- er study suggested that seven percent of 1,405 children aged 8-11 living in one small area of Scotland might have used sunbeds in the previous 5-6 months. 11 Yet another study analysing sunbed use in 3,509 children aged 11-17 across the UK found that 6.8 percent of them and 13.6 percent of the children from Scotland had used sunbeds. 12 These studies show that many Scottish parents have inadequate knowledge about the causes of skin cancer or are simply failing to protect their children from them.The dangerous UV exposures they are allowing their children could be playing a big part in the increased skin cancer incidence among young people. Tanning beds have been a special problem. A study in central Scotland showed a 30 percent increase in the num- 46% of Scottish people deliber- ately burn their skin in the sun to 'deepen' a tan – despite the fact that the average Scot's type I skin is not truly capable of tanning. SUNBED USE MAY DAMAGE YOUR SKIN AND WILL INCREASE YOUR RISK OF SKIN CANCER HEALTH WARNING 72

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