In a new study, researchers found a clear link between the number of solarium sessions and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) development.
The research was conducted by a team from the University of Oslo.
Squamous-cell skin cancer, also known as SCC, is one of the main types of skin cancer along with basal cell cancer, and melanoma.
It usually presents as a hard lump with a scaly top but can also form an ulcer. Onset is often over months.
There are only a few studies investigating the association between solarium use and the risk of SCC in the skin.
Norway is among the countries in Europe with the highest incidence of skin cancer, and SCC is among the most rapidly increasing cancers.
More than 2000 Norwegians are diagnosed with SCC every year, and 40 die from SCC.
The team followed 160,000 women into the Norwegian Women and Cancer study from 1991 to 2015.
The researchers found that the highest solarium users had an 83% increased the risk for developing SCC compared to non-users.
The lowest solarium users had a 29% increased the risk for developing SCC compared to non-users.
In addition, one-fourth of the women in the study started to use solarium before age 30 years.
The clear dose-response association between solarium and SCC in this study, and that this link was independent of age at initiation of solarium use are important findings.
The research group has previously examined the association between solarium use and melanoma risk, another type of skin cancer that is also increasing in Norway.
The team says skin cancer can be largely prevented and an important step in that direction is not to use the solarium.
The lead author of the study is Ph.D. student Simon Lergenmuller.
The study is published in JAMA Dermatology.
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