I did a quick research for studies and heres what I found
Tanning beds, sunlamps, and risk of cutaneous malignant melanoma.
Gallagher RP, Spinelli JJ, Lee TK.
Cancer Control Research Program, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
richardg@bccancer.bc.caBACKGROUND: A number of studies have been conducted evaluating the risk of cutaneous malignant melanoma after exposure to sunlamps and/or sunbeds. The proportion of subjects in the individual studies who have reported exposure has, in general, been modest, and the resulting risk estimates for melanoma have been unstable with wide 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). The inconclusive results seen in individual studies have resulted in confusion as to the carcinogenicity of these devices
CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate a significantly increased risk of cutaneous melanoma subsequent to sunbed/sunlamp exposure
Perspectives in melanoma prevention: the case of sunbeds.
Autier P.
Unit of Epidemiology, Prevention and Screening, Jules Bordet Institute, Bd of Waterloo 121, Brussels 1000, Belgium.
philippe.autier@bordet.beThe incidence of cutaneous malignant melanoma (melanoma) and of basal cell carcinoma is still increasing in most fair-skinned populations. The fashion of intermittent exposure to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiations is considered the main cause of this increase. In 20 years time, tan acquisition through exposure to artificial sources of UV radiations has become frequent among fair-skinned adolescents and young adults. Modern sunbeds are powerful sources of UV radiations that do not exist in the nature, and repeated exposures to high doses of UVA constitute a new phenomenon in humans. A large prospective cohort study on 106,379 Norwegian and Swedish women conducted between 1991 and 1999 has provided evidence for a significant, moderate increase in melanoma risk among regular sunbed users. Failure of past case-control studies to document with consistency the sunbed-melanoma association was probably due to a too short latency period between sunbed use and melanoma diagnosis, and to too few subjects with high total durations of sunbed use. Regulations of sunbed installation, operation and use should become standardised across the 25 European Union countries. Enforcement of regulations in tanning parlours remains inadequate. In contrast, the existence of regulations is presented by many tanning salon operators as a guarantee that sunbed use is safe. We stress the need for the control of information disseminated by the "tanning industry" on suppositions that sunbed use is safer than sun exposure, and on the hypothetical health benefits of tanning. New fluorescent UV lamps are proposed that have a spectrum similar to the midday sun. Given the known association between intermittent sun exposure and melanoma, public-health authorities should reconsider the soundness of the commercialisation of these lamps.
a study showing links between ocular (eye) cancer and tanning booths
Artificial ultraviolet radiation and ocular melanoma in Australia.
Vajdic CM, Kricker A, Giblin M, McKenzie J, Aitken JF, Giles GG, Armstrong BK.
National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
cvajdic@nchecr.unsw.edu.auWe examined risk of ocular melanoma with exposure to artificial sources of exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in a population-based epidemiologic study of 290 cases of ocular melanoma and 893 controls aged 18-79 years in Australia in 1996-1998. Cases were identified through a prospective survey of all ophthalmologists and cancer registries in Australia; 91.8% participated. Controls were sourced from electoral rolls; 67.4% of those who were eligible and contactable participated, while 27.3% could not be contacted. Exposure to welding and use of sunlamps, including sunbeds and tanning booths, was measured by telephone interview. Analyses used unconditional logistic regression and included age, sex, region of birth, eye color, ocular and cutaneous sun sensitivity and personal sun exposure as covariates. Risk of choroid and ciliary body melanoma in 246 cases increased significantly with longer duration of use of sunlamps, first use before 21 years of age and first use after 1980. These effects were independent of personal sun exposure. Risk of these melanomas also increased with increasing duration of welding exposure, although the trend was not significant overall. There was no evidence that these exposures increased the risk of iris (n = 25) or conjunctival (n = 19) melanomas. Personal exposure to sunlamps and welding predicts risk of choroid and ciliary body melanoma in Australia. (c) 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
study talking about the use of tanning booths in the treatment of some skin disorders, but also warns of the increased chances of skin cancer
Toxic effects of ultraviolet radiation on the skin.
Matsumura Y, Ananthaswamy HN.
Department of Dermatology, Kansai Medical University, Osaka 570-8507, Japan.
matsumy@takii.kmu.ac.jpUltraviolet (UV) irradiation present in sunlight is an environmental human carcinogen. The toxic effects of UV from natural sunlight and therapeutic artificial lamps are a major concern for human health. The major acute effects of UV irradiation on normal human skin comprise sunburn inflammation (erythema), tanning, and local or systemic immunosuppression. At the molecular level, UV irradiation causes DNA damage such as cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers and (6-4) photoproducts, which are usually repaired by nucleotide excision repair (NER). Chronic exposure to UV irradiation leads to photoaging, immunosuppression, and ultimately photocarcinogenesis. Photocarcinogenesis involves the accumulation of genetic changes, as well as immune system modulation, and ultimately leads to the development of skin cancers. In the clinic, artificial lamps emitting UVB (280-320 nm) and UVA (320-400 nm) radiation in combination with chemical drugs are used in the therapy of many skin diseases including psoriasis and vitiligo. Although such therapy is beneficial, it is accompanied with undesirable side effects. Thus, UV radiation is like two sides of the same coin--on one side, it has detrimental effects, and on the other side, it has beneficial effects.
showing both sides of the argument, it mentions that while sun burning does do more damage, a chromic use of tanning booths can increase skin cancer rates
Tanning devices--fast track to skin cancer?
Young AR.
St John's Institute of Dermatology, Guy's, King's and St Thomas' School of Medicine, King's College London, London, UK.
antony.r.young@kcl.ac.ukThe use of UVB and/or UVA emitting devices for cosmetic tanning is widespread in Western populations including young people and is especially prevalent in females. Several epidemiological studies, although not all, have shown a significant relationship between the use of tanning devices and malignant melanoma after, in some cases, adjustment for confounding factors such as solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure. A relationship between solar exposure, especially intermittent exposure, and malignant melanoma is well established so it is not surprising that a similar connection has been reported for the use of tanning devices. Several epidemiological studies show that childhood exposure to sunlight is a risk factor for malignant melanoma and this may also be the case for the use of tanning devices, especially if sunburns are obtained. Some studies have evaluated the relationship between the use of tanning devices and non-melanoma skin cancer and at least one has suggested an association. The use of tanning devices by a substantial minority of young people is a worrying trend in terms of a likely increased incidence of malignant melanoma, and possibly non-melanoma cancers in the future. Although two recent reviews by epidemiologists conclude that a clear link between tanning devices and malignant melanoma is yet to be proven, there is a strong case for effective legislation to prohibit the use of tanning devices by people under 18 yr of age.
These are all recent study, and they do for the most part show trends that tanning booths can increase the risk of skin cancer. Although as with most potential causes for cancer, it's at the stage where it's likely but not proven.
As for vitamin D, you can get it in your diet but generally you can get enough from spending small amounts of time in the sun
An initial exposure to sunlight (10 -15 minutes) allows adequate time for Vitamin D synthesis and should be followed by application of a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 to protect the skin. Ten to fifteen minutes of sun exposure at least two times per week to the face, arms, hands, or back without sunscreen is usually sufficient to provide adequate vitamin D [14].
vitamin D is generally associated with the transfer of calcium, or the control of calcium and phosphorus in the blood stream. A lack of vitamin D can cause osteoporosis in older people or rickets in children. There has been some studies showing that it can help prevent some cancers, most notably colon and colorectal but this can be atteined without sun exposure through diet. Pretty much all milk is now fortified with vitamin D and
One cup of vitamin D fortified milk supplies one-half of the recommended daily intake for adults between the ages of 19 and 50, one-fourth of the recommended daily intake for adults between the ages of 51 and 70, and approximately 15% of the recommended daily intake for adults age 71 and over.
and there are other sources of dietary vitamin D.