Tanning lamp sessions have increased in Europe in recent years.,Recent epidemiological studies have confirmed a proven link between melanoma and artificial UV exposure.,However, in France, little information is available to determine the exposure of the population.,This article presents the results from the ‘Baromètre cancer 2010’ concerning the proportion of users exposed to artificial UV radiation in France, their characteristics and level of information on the risks associated.,A two stage random sampling telephone survey assisted by CATI system (household, individual) was performed from 3 April 2010 to 7 August 2010 on a sample of 3,359 people aged 15 to 75 years old.,In 2010, 13.4% of the French population reported to have tanning lamp sessions at least once in their lifetime and 3.5% of the total population reported the use of artificial UV radiation over the last twelve months.,Exposure over the last twelve months is most commonly seen among females (5.0%) and young population between 20-25 years old (9.6%).,In addition, 3.5% of those under 18 years report having attended UV booths at least once during their lifetime even though they are forbidden to minors.,Moreover, more than one the third of users reported more than 10 exposures within a year.,The places of exposure cited most often were beauty salons (50%) and tanning centers (46%).,Only 49.2% of those surveyed felt that they were well informed on the risks of cancer associated with UV booths.,Furthermore, the population was found to have misconceptions about artificial UV radiation.,One quarter of the population, believe that artificial UV radiation use before vacation protects the skin from sunburn.,This first study on artificial UV radiation exposure in France has better quantified and characterized the users.,It has also defined the state of knowledge and the perception of risk by the general French population.,This work will contribute to determine actions of prevention to reduce cancer risk related to artificial UV radiation.
Despite educational and public health campaigns to convey the risks of indoor tanning, many individuals around the world continue to engage in this behavior.,Few descriptive studies of indoor tanning have collected information pertaining to the lifetime history of indoor tanning, thereby limiting our ability to understand indoor tanning patterns and potentially target interventions for individuals who not only initiate, but continue to persistently engage in indoor tanning.,In-person interviews elicited detailed retrospective information on lifetime history of indoor tanning among white individuals (n = 401) under age 40 seen by a dermatologist for a minor benign skin condition.,These individuals were controls in a case-control study of early-onset basal cell carcinoma.,Outcomes of interest included ever indoor tanning in both males and females, as well as persistent indoor tanning in females - defined as females over age 31 who tanned indoors at least once in the last three or all four of four specified age periods (ages 11-15, 16-20, 21-30 and 31 or older).,Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify sociodemographic and lifestyle correlates of ever and persistent indoor tanning in females.,Approximately three-quarters (73.3%) of females and 38.3% of males ever tanned indoors, with a median age of initiation of 17.0 and 21.5, respectively.,Among indoor tanners, 39.3% of females and 21.7% of males reported being burned while indoor tanning.,Female ever indoor tanners were younger, had darker color eyes, and sunbathed more frequently than females who never tanned indoors.,Using unique lifetime exposure data, 24.7% of female indoor tanners 31 and older persistently tanned indoors starting as teenagers.,Female persistent indoor tanners drank significantly more alcohol, were less educated, had skin that tanned with prolonged sun exposure, and sunbathed outdoors more frequently than non-persistent tanners.,Indoor tanning was strikingly common in this population, especially among females.,Persistent indoor tanners had other high-risk behaviors (alcohol, sunbathing), suggesting that multi-faceted behavioral interventions aimed at health promotion/disease prevention may be needed in this population.