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Hair color and artificial tanning boost skin cancer risk
Source: (cancerfacts.com)
Wednesday, October 15, 2003
by Michael O'Leary
OSLO, Norway – Oct. 15, 2003 – Young women who use tanning beds about once a month may be boosting their risk of a deadly form of skin cancer by as much as 55 percent compared others their age who do not use such tanning salons, say researchers.
The finding was one of several that confirm results of other trials showing a link between exposure to ultraviolet rays and malignant melanoma, however the size of this study lends substantial scientific weight to the mounting evidence.
Led by Dr. Marit Bragelien Veierød, of the University of Oslo, the Women's Lifestyle and Health Cohort Study included 106,379 women from Norway and Sweden who were aged 30–50 years in 1991 or 1992 when they completed an extensive questionnaire on personal characteristics and exposures. Linkages to national registries ensured complete follow-up through December 31, 1999.
"Our results confirm previous findings that hair color, number of nevi (moles) on the legs, and history of sunburn are risk factors for melanoma and suggest that use of a solarium is also associated with melanoma risk," the authors wrote. "Adolescence and early adulthood appear to be among the most sensitive age periods for the effects of sunburn and solarium use on melanoma risk. However, it may be too early to see the full effect of adult exposures in this cohort."
The final study involved 57,584 (57.6%) Norwegian women and 49,259 (51.3%) Swedish women who returned extensive questionnaires relating to their sun exposure.
The questionnaires asked study participants to categorize their natural hair color (dark brown/black, brown, blond, or red) and their eye color (brown, gray/green, or blue) and to categorize the number of irregular moles larger than one-quarter inch on their legs. In addition, participants were asked to report their histories of sunburn and sunbathing vacations and on the frequency of their use of a solarium or sunlamps that emit artificial UV light.
During an average 8.1 years of follow-up there were 187 diagnoses of melanoma reported to the Cancer Registries in Norway and Sweden among those in the study.
Results showed a significant link between hair color, the number of large asymmetric moles on the legs, and body surface area and the risk of melanoma. The number of sunburns was also an important predictor of melanoma risk, and the strongest effects were associated with the number of sunburns women experienced during adolescence.
While they also found the elevated risk for younger women who regularly used tanning devices, the researchers pointed out that only 2 percent of the women in the study reported used of such devices, making the link statistically less strong than for the other risk factors. Nevertheless, the researchers were confident that the evidence is strong enough to recommend against frequent use of such devices.
"Our results provide stronger evidence than those of other studies that solarium use is associated with an increased risk of melanoma; we found that overall, regular (one or more times per month) solarium use at any age was associated with a statistically significant 55 percent increase in risk of melanoma after adjustment for sun sensitivity and measures of sun exposure"
They concluded that adolescence and early adulthood appear to be among the most sensitive age periods for the effects of sunburn and solarium use on melanoma risk. However, they say the correlation with younger age, may be because it is too early to see the full effect of adult exposures.
SOURCE: Journal of the National Cancer Institute Vol. 95, No. 20, 1530-1538, October 15, 2003
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