DermProducts

A news release out today from researchers claiming a strong link between indoor tanning and melanoma leaves out critical factors from the study that could lead to very different conclusions, according to the Indoor Tanning Association.

The press release from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) fails to mention the fact that 739 of the 1,167 melanoma patients studied had experienced more than five serious burns from the sun lasting more than one day (Table 2 of the AACR study) and 734 of the 1,167 melanoma patients had ever used indoor tanning (Table 3). Assuming a significant degree of overlap in these patients, which seems likely, the study only confirms the previously widely-held view that a history of serious outdoor sunburns is a major risk factor for melanoma.

As far as indoor tanning is concerned, the only thing the AACR study shows is that people in Minnesota who get serious sunburns in the summer also use indoor tanning in the winter.

Nevertheless, it appears that the AACR study may have obtained some valuable data relating to the causes of melanoma. The indoor tanning industry calls on AACR and the professionals who did this study to release all their data to the public via the internet so that scientists throughout the world can study it for clues as to the true cause of melanoma and perhaps make some headway in stopping the increase in this deadly disease.

Founded in 1999, the Indoor Tanning Association today represents thousands of indoor tanning manufacturers, distributors, facility owners and members from other support industries.