Physical activity has been associated with increased risk of malignant melanoma,1 as has the use of tanning beds.2 The presence of tanning beds in gyms is a concerning trend. Two of the largest American gym chains (Planet Fitness and Anytime Fitness) with total combined membership of more than 13 million people, offer indoor tanning. Nearly half of the gyms in Canada offer indoor tanning as well.3 Little is known about the characteristics of tanners who use gym tanning beds. The present study examined the proportion of indoor tanners who use gym tanning beds and tested whether they have riskier habits than other tanners. We also examined whether physical activity was related to the frequency of indoor tanning among tanners.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Research suggests that youth proximity to tanning salons may promote use; however, little is known about tanning salon proximity to schools. We assessed the proximity of tanning salons to schools in urban versus rural/suburban communities across Worcester County, Massachusetts (population > 800K). To put findings in context, we compared school proximity to tanning salons to school proximity to McDonald's restaurants, a large franchise that also caters to young people. MATERIALS and METHODS: Accessibility was measured by ArcGIS 10.2 Network Analyzer (ESRI, Redlands, CA, USA) and the most current road network data layer from Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). RESULTS: A total of 145 schools were observed in the study area, of which about 39% of schools were within 1 mile from a tanning salon. Urban schools (53.41%) had a higher proportion within 1 mile of a tanning salon than rural/suburban schools (17.54%; P < .001). More schools (39.31%) were within 1 mile of a tanning salon than schools within 1 mile of a McDonald's (22.70%; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Schools may be particularly impactful for implementing skin cancer prevention programing.

To the Editor, In 2013, 1.9 million US men reported tanning indoors. Existing research largely target teen and young adult female tanners, and less is known about male tanning behavior. Using Survey Sampling International, we recruited a nationally representative sample of 773 adults who intend to use or used an indoor tanning bed. Participants reporting a lifetime history of tanning indoors (n=636; 33.5% male) were included....

Recent research shows that 7.7% of individuals who use indoor tanning beds do so in private homes, but little is known about this group. This study evaluated the tanning practices, reasons for tanning, and association with tanning addiction of adults who use tanning beds in private residences.