Skin Cancer Public Service Advertisements (PSAs)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the topic of the Academy’s PSA campaign?
For the 2010-2011 campaign, the Academy is focusing on educating young women
about the dangers of tanning – a continuation of the focus of the Academy’s previous
campaigns. The primary goal is to educate women ranging from those in high
school to those in their mid 20s about the risks of indoor and outdoor tanning so they
will think twice about partaking in this risky behavior.
Why is the Academy targeting tanning?
Skin cancer remains a serious health problem and overexposure to UV radiation
from the sun and artificial devices such as tanning beds and sun lamps is a known
risk factor. One of the Academy’s top priorities is to increase restrictions on access
to indoor tanning equipment – particularly for the vulnerable teenage population.
Through its public education and advocacy efforts, the Academy aims to correct the
misinformation promoted by the indoor tanning industry and to persuade
governmental entities to improve their regulation of these devices. This campaign is
a way to directly target the teenage and young adult population with compelling,
relatable messages about the risks of tanning.
Some tanning salons claim indoor tanning is safer than tanning in the sun.
Why does the Academy disagree?
Research shows the amount of the radiation produced during indoor tanning is
similar to the sun, and in some cases might be stronger.1,2 The U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services and the International Agency of Research on
Cancer panel have declared ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun and artificial
sources, such as tanning beds and sun lamps, as known carcinogens (cancercausing substances). Studies have found a 75 percent increase in the risk of
melanoma in those who had been exposed to UV radiation from indoor
tanning.3,4
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The Academy’s stance also is supported by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
which issued a consent order in 2010 that prohibits the Indoor Tanning Association
(ITA) from making false health and safety claims about indoor tanning. The Academy
raised its concerns about the false statements being made by the ITA with the FTC
in 2008 after the ITA launched an advertising campaign designed to portray indoor
tanning as safe and beneficial.
What is the Academy’s goal with this campaign?
The Academy is committed to leading the charge to reduce the incidence of and
mortality from skin cancer in the next 10 to 30 years. The PSA campaign is one
initiative to help reach that goal. Since melanoma is the most common form of
cancer for young adults 25-29 years old and the second most common form of
cancer for adolescents and young adults 15-29 years old, the Academy is targeting
young women with information about the risks of tanning.5 By motivating young
women to avoid tanning or to stop or significantly reduce this risky behavior, the
Academy hopes to help reduce the incidence of skin cancer over the next 30 years,
especially in young people.
Additionally, the Academy opposes indoor tanning and supports a ban on the
production and sale of indoor tanning equipment for non-medical purposes. The
Academy supports the World Health Organization recommendation that minors
should not use indoor tanning
equipment because indoor tanning devices emit UVA and UVB radiation, and
because overexposure to UV radiation can lead to the development of skin cancer.
Unless and until the FDA bans the sale and use of indoor tanning equipment for nonmedical purposes, the Academy supports restrictions for indoor tanning facilities,
including:
1.
No person or facility should advertise the use of any UVA or UVB tanning
device using wording such as “safe,” “safe tanning,” “no harmful rays,”
“no adverse effect,” or similar wording or concepts.
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If indoor tanning is so bad, why isn’t the government doing something about
it?
More than thirty states in the U.S. already restrict indoor tanning use by minors
(prohibit use or require parental consent). Additionally, there is growing support from
leading national and international health authorities to eliminate young people’s
exposure to the dangerous UV radiation emitted by indoor tanning beds and sun
lamps. Respected national and international health organizations, such as World
Health Organization, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical
Association and American Academy of Pediatrics, support enacting federal
legislation to prohibit the use of indoor tanning equipment by anyone under the age
of 18.
Many people believe that tanning beds are a good source for obtaining vitamin
D. Is that true?
The American Academy of Dermatology is deeply concerned that recent reports
linking the health benefits of vitamin D to unprotected UV exposure mislead the
public about the very real dangers of UV exposure, the leading cause of skin cancer.
Indoor tanning is neither an efficient nor a safe way to obtain vitamin D. Your skin
makes vitamin D when it is exposed to UVB light. However, most indoor tanning
devices primarily emit UVA (93-99%) radiation and the new "high pressure" beds
have 99-100% UVA.
The Academy recommends that the public safely obtain vitamin D from nutritional
sources and dietary supplements, and not from unprotected exposure to ultraviolet
(UV) radiation from the sun or indoor tanning devices, as UV radiation is a known
risk factor for the development of skin cancer.6 The Academy recommends that
anyone concerned about getting enough vitamin D should discuss options for
obtaining sufficient vitamin D with his or her doctor. Dietary sources (fortified foods
and beverages and vitamin supplements) are available year-round. Good sources
include fortified milk, cheeses and yogurt, fortified cereal, and oily fish like salmon
and tuna.7 Research shows that vitamin D supplements are well-tolerated, safe and
effective when taken as directed by a physician.
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Where can I view the advertisements from the campaign?
The campaign consists of television, radio, print and Internet banner advertisements
that highlight the risks of tanning. It is being distributed to media outlets nationwide.
Additionally, you can view the campaign and learn more about skin cancer at
www.aad.org/psa.
How was the PSA campaign developed?
As a follow up to its previous two campaigns which also addressed tanning, the
Academy developed this campaign with guidance from the Academy’s Council on
Communications. The ads target young women ranging from those in high school to
those in their mid 20s.
What is a PSA campaign?
As defined by the Ad Council, public service advertising is "advertising that serves
the public interest." The objective of these ads is education and awareness of
significant social issues in an effort to change the public's attitudes and behaviors,
and stimulate positive social change.
Has the Academy created a PSA campaign before?
Since the mid-1990s, the Academy has created and distributed PSA campaigns. The
purpose of the Academy’s skin cancer PSA campaigns is to educate the public
about skin cancer as part of its strategic plan to lead the charge to reduce the
mortality from and incidence of skin cancer in the next 10 – 30 years.
For additional information, please contact the Academy’s Communications
Department at (847) 330-0230.
1
Hornung RL, Magee KH, Lee WJ, Hansen LA, Hsieh YC. Tanning facility use: are we exceeding the Food
and Drug Administration limits? J AM Acad Dermatol. 2003 Oct;49(4):655-61.
2
Miller, SA, Hamilton, SL, Wester, UG, Cyr, WH. An analysis of UVA emissions from sunlamps and the
potential importance for melanoma. Photochem Photobiol 68(1998), 63-70.
3Lazovich,
D, et al. “Indoor Tanning and Risk of Melanoma: A Case-Control Study in a Highly Exposed
Population.” Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2010 June;19(6):1557-1568.
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4The
International Agency for Research on Cancer Working Group on artificial ultraviolet (UV) light and skin
cancer “The association of use of sunbeds with cutaneous malignant melanoma and other skin cancers: A
systematic review.” International Journal of Cancer: 2007 March 1;120:1116–1122.
5Cancer
Epidemiology in Older Adolescents & Young Adults. SEER AYA Monograph Pages 53-57. 2007.
6American
Academy of Dermatology Position Statement on Vitamin D:
http://www.aad.org/forms/policies/Uploads/PS/PS-Vitamin%20D%2011-16-09.pdf.
7Wolpowitz
D, Gilchrest, BA. The vitamin D questions: how much do you need and how should you get it? J
Am Acad Dermatol 2006;54:301-17.