Shivani Ledwani
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Do you use indoor tanning believing that this is safe? Beware as this may increase the chances of your developing melanoma, an alarming study says. The indoor tanning raises the risk of developing melanoma even if a person has never had burns from either indoor or outdoor tanning.
To test the hypothesis that indoor tanning without burns prevents sunburn and subsequent skin cancer, researchers at University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, used data from a case-control study on indoor tanning and the risk of melanoma.
The researchers had detailed information on indoor tanning and sun exposure for the study participants and excluded those who experienced a burn while tanning indoors.
A total of 1,167 melanoma patients were matched to 1,101 control subjects by sex and age.
The study found that melanoma patients reporting zero lifetime burns were nearly four times more likely to be indoor tanners than control subjects.
In addition, melanoma patients with zero sunburns reported having started tanning indoors at younger ages and used indoor tanning over more years than other patients who had experienced sunburn, suggesting that greater total exposure contributed to the findings.
'Indoor tanning, even when used in a way that does not produce burns, is a risk factor for melanoma,' the researchers concluded.
The study is published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Melanocytes are cells that produce melanin the pigment that colours our skin. Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that originates in melanocytes. It is a less common, but most dangerous form of skin cancer and can originate in any part of the body that contains the skin pigment producing cells. The main cause of skin cancer is exposure to the ultraviolet radiation from sun. Roughly 10 percent of melanomas are familial i.e. they occur in the family members. Individuals with dysplastic or atypical nevi (irregular bordered mole-like growth on skin) carry a 20-fold more risk of developing malignant melanoma. High nevus counts (more than 25) and indoor tanning beds are the other risk factors. According to a study, sun tanning craze has caused a marked increase in melanoma cases in women between 40 to 50 years of age.
A biopsy is the only way to diagnose the condition. A melanoma cancer, if caught early, can be cured with relatively minor surgery. Melanomas which are hard to treat have been found to be potentially sensitive to MEK inhibitors.
Sunscreen can help prevent skin cancer. A US study has found that women consuming aspirin reduce their risk of developing melanoma, and the longer they take the medicine, the lower risk they have. The findings suggest that aspirin's anti-inflammatory effects may help protect against this type of skin cancer. Another study has found that the progression of melanoma may be slowed down by the antioxidant effect of olive oil. According to scientists, taking vitamin A food supplements can also make people less likely to develop
With inputs from IANS
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