French teenagers and artificial tanning

• Published in: Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology 2013-03, Vol.27 (3), p.e428-e432
• Main Authors: Tella, E., Beauchet, A., Vouldoukis, I., Séi, J.-F., Beaulieu, P., Sigal, M.-L., Mahé, E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Child; Female; France; Humans; Male; Skin Pigmentation; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 0926-9959; 1468-3083
• DOI: 10.1111/jdv.12015

Background  Exposure to solar and artificial ultraviolet (UV) radiations is a major risk factor for skin cancers. France has enacted one of the strictest laws that, notably, restrict tanning‐bed access to adults ≥18 years old. Objective  We evaluated artificial tanning behaviours of French teenagers (11–17 years old): sunless‐tanning products, sunlamps and artificial tanning beds. Methods  An anonymous questionnaire evaluating sunburn history, skin phototype, behaviours with sunless‐tanning products and indoor tanning, and parents’ behaviours was distributed to students enrolled in two middle and high schools in Antony, a typical city of the middle class French population, located in the Paris suburbs. Results  Among 713 teenagers (mean age: 13.5 years: male/female: 1.1) responding, more than half declared that it was important to be tanned during the summer, 1% reported having already used tanning pills, 9.9% tanning creams and 1.4% indoor tanning. Female teenagers significantly more frequently resorted to indoor tanning (P = 0.02), cited the importance of being tanned all year long (P