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Skin Cancer Risks Higher for Teens Who Tan

Teens who tan in salons are more likely to develop skin cancer, according to a new study.

Researchers from Dartmouth University found a like between early exposure to the ultraviolet radiation lamps used for indoor tanning with a higher risk for developing basal cell carcinomas (BCC) at a young age.

The study involved 657 participants in the New Hampshire Skin Cancer Study who were diagnosed with basal cell carcinomas and 452 healthy participants.

Researchers recorded the tanning devices participants used, participants' skin sensitivity to the sun and the duration of time participants spent outdoors in childhood.

"Our findings suggest that teens and young adults who seek indoor tanning may be especially vulnerable to developing BCC, the most common form of skin cancer, at a young age," lead author Professor Margaret Karagas said in a news release.

The study revealed that significantly more patients with early-onset BCC reported indoor tanning with a tanning lamp compared to healthy participants.

Furthermore, participants with early-onset BCC were more likely to burn rather than tan during the first hour of sun exposure in summer compared to their healthy counterparts.

Researchers said the study suggests that indoor tanning products can produce 10 to 15 times as much UV radiation as the midday sun.

Source: Counsel & Heal
http://www.counselheal.com/articles/10203/20140624/skin-cancer-risk-higher-teens-who-tan.htm