Sunbed-Related Injuries in the USA

January 5, 2015

Key Findings

Indoor tanning exposes users to intense UV radiation, which is a known carcinogen. However, little is known about the more immediate adverse outcomes of indoor tanning.

Conducted by a CDC health official and colleagues, the study collected information from 66 US hospital emergency rooms on cases of injuries caused due to indoor tanning between 2003 and 2012. Over 80 per cent of patients involved in the study were female and about 80 per cent were white.

An analysis of data identified 405 nonfatal injury cases related to indoor tanning. According to the researchers, an average of 3,234 injuries cases that were associated with indoor tanning were treated annually nationwide. Most patients suffered skin burns due to tanning and 10 per cent fainted, while about 6 per cent suffered eye injuries such as inflamed corneas, burns or foreign objects embedded in the eye.

The researchers highlight the importance of people understanding both the long-term and the short-term risks of indoor tanning. "Many immediate risks are also associated with higher risk of health issues later on, like skin cancer. For instance, burns raise the risk of skin cancer later in life, while eye injuries from intense UV exposure may lead to cataracts and eye melanoma."

Source:

Guy, GP, et al. Indoor Tanning–Related Injuries Treated in a National Sample of US Hospital Emergency Departments. JAMA Intern Med. Research Letter. Published online December 15, 2014. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.6697http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2020289