Sunburn and artificial tanning

The dangers of sun burn and artificial tanning are increasingly covered by the media, but mostly in relation to the risk of skin cancer. UV radiation both from sun bathing and artificial tanning is an increasing public health concern as a result of acute burn injuries sustained through ignorance or negligence. This chapter highlights the acute harmful effects UV radiation and artificial tanning has on the skin, and summarizes the management in terms of medical and public awareness.

Melanotan-induced priapism: a hard-earned tan

Melanocortin analogues, such as melanotan, are illegally used for artificial tanning. They have also been suggested as possible therapeutic agents in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. This case study presents a patient attending the accident and emergency department, in a tertiary urology centre, with acute priapism after abdominal subcutaneous injection of melanotan. The priapism was diagnosed as ‘low-flow’ and managed with cavernosal aspiration, irrigation and subsequent intracavernosal injection of phenylephrine. The patient avoided requiring surgical shunting but had not yet recovered erectile function at 4-week follow-up. Acute priapism is an unreported side effect of melanocortin analogue use and this case report presents a patient managed without surgical intervention. Future therapeutic application of these agents will need to take this potential life altering complication into consideration.

A Qualitative Analysis of Canadian Indoor Tanning Policies

Background: The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies artificial tanning devices as Group 1 human carcinogens. Studies have shown that use of indoor tanning before age 35 can increase the risk of melanoma development by 75%. It has therefore been recommended that indoor tanning use be restricted in individuals younger than age 18. Objectives: This study aims to review the state of provincial indoor tanning policies, especially in regards to use by youth across Canada, and what strategies are being implemented to enforce them. Methods: Focused interviews were conducted with representatives from the provincial Ministries of Health across Canada in May and June 2014. Follow-up interviews were performed between February and May 2017. Results: As of January 2018, regulations are in effect in all Canadian provinces restricting indoor tanning by minors and requiring display of signage warning of the risks of indoor tanning by salons. However, there are discrepancies among the provinces on how and if tanning salons are monitored and how and if these regulations are enforced. Conclusions: While implementing youth bans on indoor tanning is a promising start, all Canadian provinces need to ensure that efforts are being undertaken to ensure compliance with these policies to effectively combat the rising incidence of skin cancer among the Canadian population.

Trending on Pinterest: an examination of pins about skin tanning

Rates of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers are on the rise in the USA with data revealing disproportionate increase in female young adults. The popularity of intentional skin tanning among U.S. adolescents is attributed to several factors, including prioritization of physical appearance, media images of tanned celebrities, ease of availability of artificial tanning facilities, and more recently, the prevalence and celebration of tanned skin on social media. Pinterest, as the third most popular social media platform, was searched for “pins” about skin tanning. The resultant “pins” were examined to understand the extent and characteristics of skin tanning portrayed on Pinterest. We analyzed pins on Pinterest about skin tanning (n = 501) through a quantitative content analysis. Overall, results indicated an overwhelmingly protanning characteristic of pins about skin tanning on Pinterest, with over 85% of pins promoting tanning behavior. The pins were generally characterized by the portrayal of a female subject (61%) and provided positive reinforcement for tanning (49%). Use of tanning for enhancing appearance was the main positive outcome expectancy portrayed in the pins (35%), and nudity or exposure of skin on arms (32%) and legs (31%) was evident in about a third of pins. With overwhelmingly positive pins promoting tanning, use of female subjects, exhibiting nudity, and appearance enhancement, there seems be to a consistent targeting of female users to accept tanning as a socially acceptable and popular behavior. The findings indicate a need for developing sun protection messages and the leveraging of social media for dissemination of skin cancer prevention and detection messages.

Melanoma

Melanoma is a cancer of melanocytes, cells that produce the brown-black skin pigment melanin. Melanocytes originate in cells of the neural crest and migrate during embryogenesis, principally to the epidermis, eyes, and some mucous membranes (mouth, nose, esophagus, anus, genitourinary organs, and conjunctiva). Cutaneous melanoma afflicts mainly fair-skinned people of European origin, among whom sun exposure is the major cause. Five-year relative survival can exceed 90%. Invasive cutaneous melanoma in US whites occurs mostly on the trunk (34%), and upper limbs and shoulders (26%). Melanoma incidence rates have been increasing predominantly in European-origin populations. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation, from the sun or artificial tanning devices, probably both initiates and promotes melanoma. Nevi are markers of increased melanoma risk and direct precursors in some cases; nevus-prone people may require only modest sun exposure to initiate melanoma. Other risk factors include family history and sun sensitivity.