title: Early-onset basal cell carcinoma and indoor tanning: a population-based study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Indoor tanning with UV radiation-emitting lamps is common among adolescents and young adults. Rising incidence rates of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) have been reported for the United States and elsewhere, particularly among those diagnosed at younger ages. Recent epidemiologic studies have raised concerns that indoor tanning may be contributing to early occurrence of BCC, and younger people may be especially vulnerable to cancer risk associated with this exposure. Therefore, we sought to address these issues in a population-based case-control study from New Hampshire.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on indoor tanning were obtained on 657 cases of BCC and 452 controls ≤50 years of age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Early-onset BCC was related to indoor tanning, with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 1.6 (95% confidence interval, 1.3-2.1). The strongest association was observed for first exposure as an adolescent or young adult, with a 10% increase in the OR with each age younger at first exposure (OR per year of age ≤23 = 1.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.0-1.2). Associations were present for each type of device examined (ie, sunlamps, tanning beds, and tanning booths).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest early exposure to indoor tanning increases the risk of early development of BCC. They also underscore the importance of counseling adolescents and young adults about the risks of indoor tanning and for discouraging parents from consenting minors to this practice.
authors: Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Center at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire;Section of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Department of Community and Family Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, New Hampshire; margaret.karagas@dartmouth.edu.
authors: Margaret R
authors: MR
authors: Karagas
authors: Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Center at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire;Section of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Department of Community and Family Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, New Hampshire;
authors: M Scot
authors: MS
authors: Zens
authors: Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Center at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire;Section of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Department of Community and Family Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, New Hampshire;
authors: Zhigang
authors: Z
authors: Li
authors: Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada;
authors: Therese A
authors: TA
authors: Stukel
authors: Department of Pathology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire; and.
authors: Ann E
authors: AE
authors: Perry
authors: Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Center at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire;Section of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Department of Community and Family Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, New Hampshire;
authors: Diane
authors: D
authors: Gilbert-Diamond
authors: Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Center at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire;Section of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Department of Community and Family Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, New Hampshire;
authors: Vicki
authors: V
authors: Sayarath
authors: Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Center at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire;Section of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Department of Community and Family Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, New Hampshire;
authors: Rita S
authors: RS
authors: Stephenson
authors: Department of Pathology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire; and.
authors: Dorothea
authors: D
authors: Barton
authors: Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
authors: Heather H
authors: HH
authors: Nelson
authors: Department of Pathology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire; and.
authors: Steven K
authors: SK
authors: Spencer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001505:Beauty Culture; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*
keywords: adolescents; early onset; etiology; indoor tanning; radiation; skin cancer