New research suggests that the indoor tanning trend seems to have reached its peak in the United States.
According to results published in JAMA Dermatology, indoor tanning rates dropped among adults from 5.5 percent in 2010 to 4.2 percent in 2013. However, an estimated 7.8 million women and 1.9 million men still engage in the practice, which has been linked to increased cancer risk.
"Ten million adults are trading a tan for an increased risk of skin cancer every year," Gery Guy Jr., an author of the study, told USA Today. "The tan is temporary, but the risk is permanent."
For the study, Guy and his colleagues analyzed data for more than 59,000 individuals from the 2010 and 2013 National Health Interview Survey, a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults.
In addition to the overall reduction, they found that indoor tanning dropped most decreased among those in the 18-29 years old age group, 11.3 percent in in 2010 to 8.6 percent in 2013. In women they saw an 8.6 percent drop in 2010 and 6.5 percent drop 2013), and men, 2.2 percent drop in 2010 and 1.7 percent in 2013.
Among women who indoor tanned, the frequency was 28 percent lower among the oldest group, 45 percent lower among college graduates, 33 percent lower among women in fair or poor health and 23 percent lower among women meeting aerobic or strength physical activity criteria.
However, indoor tanning frequency among men was 177 percent higher among men age 40 to 49 years old and 71 percent higher in men age 50 or older but 45 percent lower among cancer survivors, according to the results, Allure Magazine reported.
Researchers believe the decrease in indoor tanning may be partly attributable to increased awareness of its harms.
