Indoor and Outdoor Tanning

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In 2019, 5.7% of female adolescents used an indoor tanning device within the past year.

Summary graph for Indoor and Outdoor Tanning, Click to see detailed view of graph

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Background

Guy et al. 2017 estimated that restricting indoor tanning among minors under 18 years old may prevent melanoma incidence and mortality and save millions of dollars in treatment costs in the United States. Subsequent international modeling studies accounting for more stringent indoor policies in the US, Canada, and Europe since 2018 estimate reduced skin cancer burden and reduced health care costs if indoor tanning were banned among minors or banned completely.

Reports indicate that age restriction laws have been associated with less indoor tanning, and teens who do not tan before age 18 are two to four times less likely to tan as adults. Several states have adopted laws restricting youth access to tanning beds, and the FDA has proposed a nationwide restriction for minors’ (under 18 years) access to tanning beds. Bowers et al, 2020 reported that indoor tanning rates among adults over age 18 also decreased in states that banned indoor tanning among minors as compared to adults in states without tanning restrictions for minors.

While reduction of indoor tanning is estimated to significantly reduce melanoma, outdoor sun exposure is the primary modifiable melanoma risk factor and includes intentional outdoor tanning and unintentional sun exposure. Among US adolescents, outdoor tanning (15.6%) appears to be more prevalent than indoor tanning (3%). The 2020 National Health Interview Survey provides the most recent intentional outdoor tanning data for US adults. Overall, 33.7% of US adults reported intentional outdoor tanning in the last 12-months, and outdoor tanning was more common among women (38.7%) than men (28.7%) and among adults aged under 25 years (45.1%) than those aged 25 years and over (32%), and among sun-sensitive adults (39.9%) than adults who are not sun-sensitive (29.2%).  Considering the context of sunburn, other data indicate, leisure pursuits near water, physical activity, and work around the home as the most frequent contexts of sunburn in addition to intentional outdoor tanning.

Measure

Measures

The percentage of high school students (grades 9-12) who reported use of an indoor tanning device such as a sunlamp, sunbed, or tanning booth (not counting receipt of a spray-on tan) one or more times during the 12 months before the survey.

The percentage of adults aged 18 years and older who have used an indoor tanning device one or more times during the past 12 months. Although NHIS-CCS also collected this data for adults in 2005 and 2008, the methodology used likely resulted in overestimates, and these data are not included in the report.

The percentage of adults aged 18 years and older who reported spending time outdoors for the purpose of developing a tan (i.e., always, most times, sometimes, or rarely) during the past 12 months

Note: 2020 data point included above; graph will be included when more data points become available.

Healthy People 2030 Target

There are no Healthy People 2030 targets regarding indoor or outdoor tanning.

Healthy People 2030 is a set of goals set forth by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Data Source

Adolescents: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), 2009–2019.

Adults: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. National Health Interview Survey NCI and CDC co-sponsored Cancer Control Supplement, 2010-2015. Outdoor tanning only available for 2020.

In 2019 the NHIS questionnaire was redesigned to increase relevance, enhance data quality, and minimize respondent burden. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic created challenges conducting in-person interviews for the 2020 NHIS, requiring changes to field procedures to conduct most surveys by telephone, which impacted survey response rates. For details related to the potential impacts of these issues, please refer to Potential Impact of NHIS Redesign and COVID-19 on the Cancer Trends Progress Report.

Trends and Most Recent EstimatesHelp with navigating the graphs and data tables

Adolescents

By Sex
Percentage of adolescents in grades 9 through 12 who used an indoor tanning device in the past year by sex, 2009-2019
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2019)
Percent of adolescents 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Percentage of adolescents in grades 9 through 12 who used an indoor tanning device in the past year by sex, 2009-2019 Both SexesClick to see the detailed trend graph for Both Sexes 4.5 3.5 - 5.6
MaleClick to see the detailed trend graph for Male 3.2 2.5 - 4.1
FemaleClick to see the detailed trend graph for Female 5.7 4.2 - 7.7
By Race/Ethnicity
Percentage of adolescents in grades 9 through 12 who used an indoor tanning device in the past year by race/ethnicity, 2009-2019
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2019)
Percent of adolescents 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Percentage of adolescents in grades 9 through 12 who used an indoor tanning device in the past year by race/ethnicity, 2009-2019 All Races/EthnicitiesClick to see the detailed trend graph for All Races 4.5 3.5 - 5.6
Non-Hispanic WhiteClick to see the detailed trend graph for Non-Hispanic White 5.6 4.2 - 7.4
Non-Hispanic BlackClick to see the detailed trend graph for Non-Hispanic Black 3.2 2.2 - 4.7
HispanicClick to see the detailed trend graph for Hispanic 3.4 2.5 - 4.5
Females by Race/Ethnicity
Percentage of female adolescents in grades 9 through 12 who used an indoor tanning device in the past year by race/ethnicity, 2009-2019
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2019)
Percent of female adolescents 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Percentage of female adolescents in grades 9 through 12 who used an indoor tanning device in the past year by race/ethnicity, 2009-2019 All Races/EthnicitiesClick to see the detailed trend graph for All Races 5.7 4.2 - 7.7
Non-Hispanic WhiteClick to see the detailed trend graph for Non-Hispanic White 8.4 6.0 - 11.7
Non-Hispanic BlackClick to see the detailed trend graph for Non-Hispanic Black 0.5 0.3 - 0.9
HispanicClick to see the detailed trend graph for Hispanic 3.3 2.5 - 4.4
By High School Grade
Percentage of adolescents in grades 9 through 12 who used an indoor tanning device in the past year by grade level, 2009-2019
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2019)
Percent of adolescents 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Percentage of adolescents in grades 9 through 12 who used an indoor tanning device in the past year by grade level, 2009-2019 Grade 9Click to see the detailed trend graph for Grade 9 3.0 2.1 - 4.3
Grade 10Click to see the detailed trend graph for Grade 10 4.4 3.2 - 6.1
Grade 11Click to see the detailed trend graph for Grade 11 4.7 3.2 - 7.0
Grade 12Click to see the detailed trend graph for Grade 12 5.5 4.0 - 7.4
Females by High School Grade
Percentage of female adolescents in grades 9 through 12 who used an indoor tanning device in the past year by grade level, 2009-2019
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2019)
Percent of female adolescents 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Percentage of female adolescents in grades 9 through 12 who used an indoor tanning device in the past year by grade level, 2009-2019 Grade 9Click to see the detailed trend graph for Grade 9 3.7 2.4 - 5.6
Grade 10Click to see the detailed trend graph for Grade 10 5.5 3.7 - 8.1
Grade 11Click to see the detailed trend graph for Grade 11 5.6 3.5 - 9.0
Grade 12Click to see the detailed trend graph for Grade 12 7.5 5.0 - 11.3
Non-Hispanic White Female by High School Grade
Percentage of Non-Hispanic White female adolescents in grades 9 through 12 who used an indoor tanning device in the past year by grade level, 2009-2019
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2019)
Percent of female Non-Hispanic White adolescents 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Percentage of Non-Hispanic White female adolescents in grades 9 through 12 who used an indoor tanning device in the past year by grade level, 2009-2019 Grade 9Click to see the detailed trend graph for Grade 9 5.3 3.3 - 8.4
Grade 10Click to see the detailed trend graph for Grade 10 8.5 5.7 - 12.6
Grade 11Click to see the detailed trend graph for Grade 11 9.9 6.1 - 15.8
Grade 12Click to see the detailed trend graph for Grade 12 10.1 6.2 - 16.2

Adults

By Sex
Percentage of adults aged 18 years and older who used an indoor tanning device in the past year by sex, 2010-2015
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2015)
Percent of adults 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Percentage of adults aged 18 years and older who used an indoor tanning device in the past year by sex, 2010-2015 Both SexesClick to see the detailed trend graph for Both Sexes 3.6 3.3 - 4.0
MaleClick to see the detailed trend graph for Male 1.7 1.4 - 2.0
FemaleClick to see the detailed trend graph for Female 5.6 5.1 - 6.2
By Race/Ethnicity
Percentage of adults aged 18 years and older who used an indoor tanning device in the past year by race/ethnicity, 2010-2015
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2015)
Percent of adults 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Percentage of adults aged 18 years and older who used an indoor tanning device in the past year by race/ethnicity, 2010-2015 All Races/EthnicitiesClick to see the detailed trend graph for All Races 3.6 3.3 - 4.0
Non-Hispanic WhiteClick to see the detailed trend graph for Non-Hispanic White 5.5 5.0 - 6.1
Non-Hispanic BlackClick to see the detailed trend graph for Non-Hispanic Black 0.2 0.1 - 0.4
HispanicClick to see the detailed trend graph for Hispanic 1.0 0.8 - 1.4
By Age
Percentage of adults aged 18 years and older who used an indoor tanning device in the past year by age, 2010-2015
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2015)
Percent of adults 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Percentage of adults aged 18 years and older who used an indoor tanning device in the past year by age, 2010-2015 Ages 18-24Click to see the detailed trend graph for Ages 18-24 6.2 5.1 - 7.5
Ages 25 and olderClick to see the detailed trend graph for Ages 25 and older 3.3 2.9 - 3.6
By Sex and Age
Percentage of adults aged 18 years and older who used an indoor tanning device in the past year by sex and age, 2010-2015
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2015)
Percent of adults 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Percentage of adults aged 18 years and older who used an indoor tanning device in the past year by sex and age, 2010-2015 Males, Ages 18-24Click to see the detailed trend graph for Males, Ages 18-24 1.5 0.9 - 2.5
Males, Ages 25 and olderClick to see the detailed trend graph for Males, Ages 25 and older 1.7 1.4 - 2.0
Females, Ages 18-24Click to see the detailed trend graph for Females, Ages 18-24 11.0 9.0 - 13.4
Females, Ages 25 and olderClick to see the detailed trend graph for Females, Ages 25 and older 4.8 4.3 - 5.4
By Poverty Income Level
Percentage of adults aged 18 years and older who used an indoor tanning device in the past year by poverty income level, 2010-2015
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2015)
Percent of adults 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Percentage of adults aged 18 years and older who used an indoor tanning device in the past year by poverty income level, 2010-2015 <200% of federal poverty levelClick to see the detailed trend graph for <200% of federal poverty level 2.6 2.2 - 3.0
>=200% of federal poverty levelClick to see the detailed trend graph for >=200% of federal poverty level 4.2 3.7 - 4.6
By Education Level
Percentage of adults aged 25 years and older who used an indoor tanning device in the past year by highest level of education obtained, 2010-2015
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2015)
Percent of adults 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Percentage of adults aged 25 years and older who used an indoor tanning device in the past year by highest level of education obtained, 2010-2015 Less than High SchoolClick to see the detailed trend graph for Less than High School 1.6 1.1 - 2.2
High SchoolClick to see the detailed trend graph for High School 3.8 3.1 - 4.6
Greater than High SchoolClick to see the detailed trend graph for Greater than High School 3.4 3.0 - 3.8
By Sun Sensitivity
Percentage of adults aged 18 years and older who used an indoor tanning device in the past year by sun sensitivity, 2010-2015
Overview Graph Detailed Trend Graphs Most Recent Estimates (2015)
Percent of adults 95% Confidence Interval
Thumbnail of graph for Percentage of adults aged 18 years and older who used an indoor tanning device in the past year by sun sensitivity, 2010-2015 Sun-SensitiveClick to see the detailed trend graph for Sun-Sensitive 4.5 4.0 - 5.0
Not Sun-SensitiveClick to see the detailed trend graph for Not Sun-Sensitive 3.0 2.6 - 3.5
Sun sensitivity reflects a person's biological response (e.g., a burn, a burn and then tan, etc.) after prolonged sun exposure or after a long period or season of being relatively unexposed. Although race is related to sun sensitivity, race and ethnicity are not adequate proxies for sun sensitivity.

Additional Information on Indoor and Outdoor Tanning

Year Range

2009-2019

Recent Summary Trend Year Range

2015-2019

Summary Tables

Sun Protection

Recent Summary Trend

Falling

Desired Direction

Falling