Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2026

12:37
Pharmacologic Induction of Epidermal Melanin and Protection Against Sunburn in a Humanized Mouse Model
Published on: September 7, 2013
Patterns of indoor tanning use: implications for clinical interventions
Joel Hillhouse1, Rob Turrisi, Alan L Shields
1Department of Public Health, PO Box 70674, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA. hillhous@etsu.edu
Archives of Dermatology
|December 19, 2007
Summary
Indoor tanning behaviors vary significantly among individuals. Identifying distinct tanning patterns can help tailor skin cancer prevention messages for greater effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology and Public Health
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Indoor tanning is a prevalent behavior associated with increased skin cancer risk.
- Understanding diverse indoor tanning patterns is crucial for targeted health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify distinct patterns of indoor tanning behavior.
- To inform health screening and skin cancer prevention strategies.
Main Methods:
- Cluster analysis was used to identify tanning patterns from self-reported data.
- Data were collected from 168 women at a southeastern university.
- Demographic, behavioral, and psychosocial variables were compared across identified patterns.
Main Results:
- Four distinct indoor tanning patterns were identified: special event, spontaneous/mood, mixed, and regular year-round.
- Regular year-round tanners exhibited the earliest start, highest frequency, and greatest dependence.
- Event tanners tanned least, started latest, and showed lowest dependence and positive attitudes.
Conclusions:
- Indoor tanning behavior is not monolithic; distinct patterns exist.
- Clinically assessing tanning behavioral types can guide personalized skin cancer prevention.
- Tailored prevention messages based on identified patterns may enhance effectiveness.
Related Concept Videos
Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives
The first thing a clinician sees is the skin, so the examination of the skin should be part of any thorough physical examination. Most skin disorders are relatively benign, but a few, including melanomas, can be fatal if untreated. A couple of the more noticeable disorders, albinism and vitiligo, affect the appearance of the skin and its accessory organs.
Albinism
Albinism is a genetic disorder that affects (completely or partially) the coloring of skin, hair, and eyes. The defect is primarily...
Albinism
Albinism is a genetic disorder that affects (completely or partially) the coloring of skin, hair, and eyes. The defect is primarily...
Acne Infection
Acne is a multifactorial skin condition primarily affecting adolescents and young adults, with a global prevalence estimated to exceed 75% in this demographic. The condition is characterized by the formation of comedones (blackheads and whiteheads), papules, pustules, nodules, and, in severe cases, cysts, particularly in areas rich in sebaceous glands such as the face, neck, chest, and back. The pathogenesis involves increased sebum production, follicular hyperkeratinization, colonization by...
Pigmentation
The color of the skin is influenced by a number of pigments, including melanin, carotene, and hemoglobin. Recall that melanin is produced by cells called melanocytes, which are found scattered throughout the stratum basale of the epidermis. The melanin is transferred to the keratinocytes via melanosomes.
Melanin occurs in two primary forms: eumelanin that provides black and brown pigment and pheomelanin that provides red color. Dark-skinned individuals produce more melanin than those with pale...
Melanin occurs in two primary forms: eumelanin that provides black and brown pigment and pheomelanin that provides red color. Dark-skinned individuals produce more melanin than those with pale...
Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is a type of cancer that occurs when there is an abnormal growth of skin cells, usually triggered by damage to the DNA within the skin cells. It is primarily caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or artificial sources like tanning beds. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer worldwide, and its incidence continues to rise.
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): BCC is the most common type of skin cancer, accounting for about 80% of cases. It typically develops in...
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): BCC is the most common type of skin cancer, accounting for about 80% of cases. It typically develops in...
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring: Affecting Factors
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) is the clinical practice of measuring specific drug levels in a patient's blood or body tissues to manage and optimize therapy. TDM is crucial for drugs with narrow therapeutic windows, like warfarin and phenytoin, where incorrect doses can lead to treatment failure or severe side effects. This monitoring ensures the dosage administered is within a safe and effective range. The factors affecting therapeutic drug monitoring include:Patient-Specific Factors:a.
Mutations
Mutations are changes in the sequence of DNA. These changes can occur spontaneously or they can be induced by exposure to environmental factors. Mutations can be characterized in a number of different ways: whether and how they alter the amino acid sequence of the protein, whether they occur over a small or large area of DNA, and whether they occur in somatic cells or germline cells.
Chromosomal Alterations Are Large-Scale Mutations
While point mutations are changes in a single nucleotide in...
Chromosomal Alterations Are Large-Scale Mutations
While point mutations are changes in a single nucleotide in...
