Many Teen Girls Use Tanning Beds

Despite the risk of skin cancer, including deadly melanoma, nearly 30 percent of white female high school students use tanning beds and nearly 17 percent use them often, a new report finds.

Among white women aged 18 to 34, nearly 25 percent use tanning beds and 15 percent use them frequently, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"The high rates of indoor tanning among this population is very concerning," said report coauthor Gery Guy Jr., of the division of cancer prevention at the CDC.

Moreover, there have been no significant changes in the prevalence of indoor tanning in recent years, he said.

"Indoor tanning has been associated with skin cancer, particularly melanoma," Guy said. "The risk is increased among younger users and those who use it frequently."

The report was published online Aug. 19 in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.

Source: U.S. News & World Report
http://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2013/08/19/many-teen-girls-using-tanning-beds-report