More skin, more sun, more tan, more melanoma

C. Chang, E.C. Murzaku, L. Penn, N.R. Abbasi, P.D. Davis, M. Berwick and D. Polsky

American Journal of Public Health, 2014, vol. 104, issue 11, e92-e99

Abstract: Although personal melanoma risk factors are well established, the contribution of socioeconomic factors, including clothing styles, social norms, medical paradigms, perceptions of tanned skin, economic trends, and travel patterns, to melanoma incidence has not been fully explored. We analyzed artwork, advertisements, fashion trends, and data regarding leisure-time activities to estimate historical changes in UV skin exposure. We used data from national cancer registries to compare melanoma incidence rates with estimated skin exposure and found that they rose in parallel. Although firm conclusions about melanoma causation cannot be made in an analysis such as this, we provide a cross-disciplinary, historical framework in which to consider public health and educational measures that may ultimately help reverse melanoma incidence trends. © 2014, American Public Health Association Inc. All rights reserved.

Keywords: adolescent; adult; attitude to health; clothing; cultural anthropology; female; history; history; human; incidence; male; melanoma; radiation response; skin; statistics and numerical data; sunbathing; suntan; United States; young adult, Adolescent; Adult; Clothing; Culture; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; History, 20th Century; Humans; Incidence; Male; Melanoma; Skin; Sunbathing; Suntan; United States; Young Adult (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2014.302185_9

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.302185

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