Cutaneous melanoma is currently the sixth most common type of cancer in Europe, with more than 150,000 new cases diagnosed in 2024 and its incidence continues to increase.[1] The greatest increase in risk is observed in people under 40 years of age.
One of the environmental factors that is associated with an increased risk of melanoma at an early age is the use of indoor tanning. At this age, the search for a tan is usually associated with habits such as intermittent sun exposure, which, added to the individual factors of each patient (red hair and light skin, positive family history of melanoma, prior melanoma, more than 50 atypical moles or more than five dysplastic naevi, large congenital naevi, and inherited mutations in melanoma genes) increase the risk of melanoma.[2]
There is substantial evidence that indoor tanning, by emitting both UVA and UVB (mainly UVA) radiation, are carcinogenic,[3] which means we know that they cause cancer, in addition to other adverse effects such as burns, premature skin aging and in some cases damage. ocular such as keratitis and cataracts.
In the United States, nearly half a million cases of skin cancer each year are linked to indoor tanning use.
Research shows that 97% of women diagnosed with melanoma before age 30 have a history of indoor tanning use. And the risk of developing melanoma increases by 75% if you have used a indoor tanning before age 35.[4]
A popular misconception is that because indoor tanning emit primarily UVA rays, they are safer than sun exposure, but that is not true at all.
UVA rays from indoor tanning can be up to 5 times more concentrated than sun exposure and penetrate the skin more deeply than UVB rays.[5] This radiation is absorbed into the skin, producing indirect changes in DNA and genetic mutations that could develop into skin cancer in the future.
We know then that there is a strong link between exposure to UV rays when you are young and the development of melanoma and other skin cancers. The more exposure a person has had at a young age, the more cumulative damage from UV rays to their DNA and therefore the greater the risk of developing melanoma.
One of the key objectives of the iToBoS project is to educate and inform the general public about melanoma, since we understand that knowing the ways to prevent it and detect it early enables optimal treatments with high cure rates.
References
[1] Nurla LA, Forsea AM. Melanoma epidemiology in Europe: what is new? Ital J Dermatol Venerol. 2024 Apr;159(2):128-134. doi: 10.23736/S2784-8671.24.07811-3. PMID: 38650494.
[2] Conforti C, Zalaudek I. Epidemiology and Risk Factors of Melanoma: A Review. Dermatol PractConcept. 2021 Jul 1;11 (Suppl 1): e2021161S. doi: 10.5826/dpc.11S1a161S. PMID: 34447610; PMCID: PMC8366310
[3] An S, Kim K, Moon S, Ko KP, Kim I, Lee JE, Park SK. Indoor Tanning and the Risk of Overall and Early-Onset Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Cancers (Basel). 2021 Nov 25;13(23):5940. doi: 10.3390/cancers13235940. PMID: 34885049; PMCID: PMC8656707.
[5] Junkins J, Tanning and skin cancer. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010;62:854-6
Dr. Nuria Ferrera
Dr. Josep Malvehy