NEW ORLEANS — Sunless tanning preparations are linked with a decrease in the use of tanning beds and a slight increase in the use of sunscreens, Daniel Sheehan, M.D., said in a poster presentation at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Although Dr. Sheehan's survey of 121 people who used such a product indicated that most didn't change their outdoor sun exposure, the reported decrease in tanning bed exposure could have a positive effect on skin health.
“Traditional ultraviolet light tanning bed use has been linked to melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers by recent case-control studies,” commented Dr. Sheehan in an interview.
He also said, given this prevalence, physicians “should advocate the use of sunless tanning to their patients and their community as a means of decreasing traditional [ultraviolet light] tanning bed use and UVL exposure.”
Dr. Sheehan, of the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, administered surveys to 121 sunless tanning patrons at two salons.
The subjects ranged in age from 14 to 58 years. The survey group was composed of 78 first-time users and 43 repeat users.
About one-quarter of patrons (26%) said sunless tanning decreased their outdoor sun exposure, but most (64%) said it had no effect. Almost one-quarter (23%) said sunless tanning increased their use of sunscreen.
The largest effect was seen in decreased use of tanning beds; 70% said sunless tanning decreased their use of tanning beds.
The trend toward decreased outdoor sun exposure and increased sunscreen use may represent additional health benefits of sunless tanning, in addition to the statistically significant decrease in tanning bed use, Dr. Sheehan noted.
The spray-on tanning offered at the salon isn't cheap: It's at least $20 per session, he said. But there are many over-the-counter preparations that offer similar results at a lower cost.
It's important to remember, however, that patients counseled to use those products should also be counseled to use sunscreen, he added.
