Density of Indoor Tanning Facilities in 116 Large U.S. Cities

Hoerster, Katherine D.; Garrow, Rebecca L.; Mayer, Joni A.; Clapp, Elizabeth J.; Weeks, John R.; Woodruff, Susan I.; Sallis, James F.; Slymen, Donald J.; Patel, Minal R.; Sybert, Stephanie A.

doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2008.10.020

« Previous Next »American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Volume 36, Issue 3 , Pages 243-246, March 2009

Density of Indoor Tanning Facilities in 116 Large U.S. Cities

Katherine D. Hoerster, MS
- Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego State University/University of California San Diego, San Diego, California
Rebecca L. Garrow, MPH
- Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
Joni A. Mayer, PhD
- Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
- Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Joni A. Mayer, PhD, 9245 Sky Park Court, Suite 220, San Diego CA 92123
Elizabeth J. Clapp, MPH
- Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
John R. Weeks, PhD
- Department of Geography, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
Susan I. Woodruff, PhD
- School of Social Work, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
James F. Sallis, PhD
- Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
Donald J. Slymen, PhD
- Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
Minal R. Patel, MPH
- Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
Stephanie A. Sybert, MPH
- Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, California

Background

U.S. adolescents and young adults are using indoor tanning at high rates, even though it has been linked to both melanoma and squamous cell cancer. Because the availability of commercial indoor tanning facilities may influence use, data are needed on the number and density of such facilities.

Methods

In March 2006, commercial indoor tanning facilities in 116 large U.S. cities were identified, and the number and density (per 100,000 population) were computed for each city. Bivariate and multivariate analyses conducted in 2008 tested the association between tanning-facility density and selected geographic, climatologic, demographic, and legislative variables.

Results

Mean facility number and density across cities were 41.8 (SD=30.8) and 11.8 (SD=6.0), respectively. In multivariate analysis, cities with higher percentages of whites and lower ultraviolet (UV)index scores had significantly higher facility densities than those with lower percentages of whites and higher UV index scores.

Conclusions

These data indicate that commercial indoor tanning is widely available in the urban U.S., and this availability may help explain the high usage of indoor tanning.