When white women did tan inside, they did so frequently, the report found. Overall, women reported an average of 20 times per year, with 58% reporting that they tanned 10 or more times per year. White women aged 18-21 years had the highest frequency of tanning (28 sessions per year), with 68% reporting a frequency of 10 or more times per year.
The findings from both studies suggest the need for even more education about sun protective behaviors, Dr. Marcus Plescia said in a press statement.
"More public health efforts, including providing shade and sunscreen in recreational settings, are needed to raise awareness of the importance of sun protection and sunburn prevention to reduce the burden of skin cancer," said Dr. Plescia, director of cancer prevention and control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "We must accelerate our efforts to educate young adults about the dangers of indoor tanning."
Ms. Hartman, Dr. Siegel, and Dr. Plescia have no relevant financial disclosures.