Indoor tanning prevalence after the International Agency for Research on Cancer's statement on carcinogenicity of artificial tanning devices: systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Exposure to artificial tanning devices is carcinogenic to humans and government regulations to restrict or ban indoor tanning appear to be increasing.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated changes in the international prevalence of indoor tanning among adolescents and adults after 2009, when the IARC classified artificial tanning devices as carcinogenic.

METHODS: Systematic searches in PubMed and Web of Sciences databases were undertaken. A number of 43 studies that reported ever or past-year indoor tanning exposure after 2009 were identified. We used meta-regression analysis to evaluate the prevalence of indoor tanning over time. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to summarize the prevalence of indoor tanning in adolescents and adults by sex, region, and presence of age prohibitions.

RESULTS: Global prevalence of indoor tanning in adolescents in 2013-2018 was 6·5% (95% CI: 3·3%-10·6%), 70% lower than the 22·0% (95% CI: 17·2%-26·8%) prevalence in 2007-2012 (reported in Wehner 2014). Among adults, prevalence was 11·9% (95% CI:8·7%- 15·6%) in 2012-2017, a decrease of 35% from 18·2% in 2007-2012 (Wehner 2014). Since 2009, the overall past-year prevalence among adolescents was 6·7% (95% CI, 4·4%-9·6%) and 12·5% (95% CI, 9·5%-15·6%) among adults. The prevalence of tanning indoors in the past year was similar in North America (adults 12·5%; adolescents 7·6%) and Europe (adults: 11·1%; adolescents: 5·1%). In 2009, three countries had regulations restricting indoor tanning, compared with 26 countries today.

CONCLUSION: Prevalence of indoor tanning has declined substantially and significantly in adolescents and adults since the 2009 IARC statement on carcinogenicity, reflecting the rise in regulations that limit exposure to this source of unnecessary exposure to carcinogenic ultraviolet radiation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.