Tanning Facilities Flashcards
What is has the longest wavelengths: UV radiation, X-rays, visible light?
Longest to shortest: visible light, UVR and Xrays
What are the three categories of UVR?
UVA - 315 - 400 nm
UVB 280 - 315 nm
UVC - 100 - 280 nm
Which type of UVR causes tanning and how does it do this?
Which causes sunburn?
UVA causes immediate tanning and UVB causes further darkening of the skin in the days following exposures and sunburn - signalling the activation of skin melanocytes
How: stimulates the synthesis of melanin molecules in the skin
What are the harmful effects of UVR?
Sunburns represent acute reactions to too much UVR
UVA and UVB damage DNA and induces discrete mutations
UVR can be carcinogens without causing sunburn.
UVR contributes to immunosuppression
Is there such thing as safe UVR?
Tanning induced by UVR that is devoid of carcinogenic risk may be scientifically impossible
What are some risk factors for cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM)?
Light skin colour freckles skin moles easy-to-burn skin that tans poorly FHx of CMM PHx of CMM Large number of atypical moles - high nevus count Red or blond hair Immunosuppression
Which skin cancer is responsible for the most deaths?
Cutaneous malignant melanoma
The incidence of CMM has been increasing, why?
Better detection
Increased sun-eeekin behaviour with inadequate protection
Decrease in the earth’s protective ozone layer
Changing patterns of dress with more skin exposure
More outdoor leisure activities
Tanning beds
What are some patient factors associated with increased tanning bed use?
Increased risk taking behaviours
poor self esteem
Unhealthy lifestyle choices
Parental use of indoor tanning beds
NOT: socioeconomic status, education, knowledge of risk
Is tanning bed use associated with increased CMM?
Yes. WHO have added tanning beds to the list of class 1 physical carcinogens, alongside cigarettes and asbestos.
The timing of tanning bed use may also be related to risk (earlier = higher risk)
What are the skin cancers associated with UVR exposure?
What type of of UVR exposure is linked to each
CMM
Basal cell carcinomas - early UVR exposure
Squamous cell carcinoma - chronic UVR exposure
Why do people use commercial tanning beds?
Tanning Sense of relaxation Sense of well-being Improved mood Improved compulsive disorders Improved pain Improve physical dependency.
Can you be addicted to tanning?
Yes. AKA tanorexia (becoming obsessed with/addicted to tanning and believing oneself unattractively pales even when tanned)
Research suggests that there is an opiate-like addiction to tanning (they injected opiate receptor blockers and induced withdrawal like symptoms) as well as addictive behaviour.
? with tanning you get melanin stimulating hormone production, which may be accompanied by the release of endorphins
What are some adverse effects of tanning?
Sunburn and erythema Infection Dryness Pruritus Nausea Photo-drug reaction - popular acne medication Disease exacerbation Disease induction Skin ageing Effects on eyes
Is indoor tanning a reliable source of vitamin D?
No
The industry often uses vitamin D as an opportunity to promote health benefits of tanning, but this remains unproven. Tanning is not required to generate vitamin D.
What are some benefits of vitamin D?
Bone health
Protective against cancer, heart disease, MS, and glucose dysregulation
Immune benefits
Is the UVR of tanning beds similar to natural light?
No.
Tanning beds have tried to minimise UVB, because of the association with sunburn and carcinogenesis.
Tanning beds are capable of emitting 10-15 x more UVA than midday sun.
Are there any guidelines or regulations around tanning?
There are very few. Current regulations are confined to equipment specifications at the point of purchase and non binding guidelines on operation by the purchaser. There are consumer safety and health alerts.
There are no guidelines regarding maximal yearly exposure. Health Canada and the CPS are trying to raise the age restriction from 16 to 18.
Is there a tax imposed on commercial tanning companies?
No.
In the USA there is a 10% tax imposed, but not yet in Canada
What is a physician’s role?
Physicians should screen for tanning use and advocate appropriately.
