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Melanoma is the only form of skin cancer that is aggressive with any regularity.
But you need to understand this clearly: Melanoma skin cancer does not fit the
mold of other skin cancers for the following reasons:
- Melanoma is more common in people who work indoors than in those who work
outdoors.
- Melanoma most commonly appears on parts of the body that do not receive
regular exposure to sunlight.
Heredity, fair skin, an abnormally high number of moles on one's body (above
40) and a history of repeated childhood sunburns have all been implicated as
potential risk factors for this disease. But because people who receive regular
exposure to sunlight get fewer melanomas, blanket statements that ultraviolet
light causes melanoma cannot be made. Indeed, some studies have found that an
individual's genetic susceptibility to sunburn, and not the actual sunburn incidence
itself, is the risk factor. Further, most studies on indoor tanning have not
shown a statistically significant connection between commercial use of tanning
equipment and an increased risk of melanoma.
That is important, considering that most of the studies did not account for
confounding variables such as outdoor exposure to sunlight, childhood sunburns,
type of tanning equipment utilized and duration and quantity of exposures. (What's
more, European studies on this topic do not account for regulations in place
in the United States governing maximum exposure times for people of all skin
types.)
So the professional indoor tanning industry is doing its part to help individuals
of all skin types minimize their risks by teaching them how to avoid sunburn
at all costs. We are promoting smart, moderate tanning for those individuals
who can develop a tan.
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