The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point
  • About this web log

    This blog ran from 2006 to 2016 and was intended as an objective and dispassionate source of information on the latest CAM research. Since my background is in pharmacy and allopathic medicine, I view all CAM as advancing through the development pipeline to eventually become integrated into mainstream medical practice. Some will succeed while others fail. But all are treated fairly here.

  • About the author

    John Russo, Jr., PharmD, is president of The MedCom Resource, Inc. Previously, he was senior vice president of medical communications at www.Vicus.com, a complementary and alternative medicine website.

  • Common sense considerations

    The material on this weblog is for informational purposes. It is not medical advice or counsel. Be smart, consult your health professional before using CAM.

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  • Recent Comments

    The end of tanning parlors

    In the ‘70s, commercial tanning beds were introduced. In less than 3 decades, over half of adults in northern Europe reported using them.

    Now, growing evidence of health risks is leading to restricted access to indoor tanning, worldwide.

    Here’s what we know.

    • Countries with nationwide indoor tanning legislation restricting access by people less than 19 years of age:
      • 2 countries in 2003
      • 11 countries in 2011
    • 6 states or territories in Australia restrict indoor tanning for all minors.
    • A province and a region in Canada have implemented youth tanning laws.
    • 8 states, in addition to 3 preexisting state laws, in the US have implemented indoor tanning legislation since 2003.

    The bottom line?

    • Long-term health risks of indoor tanning
      • Premature aging
      • Immune suppression
      • Cataract and other eye injuries
      • Skin cancers
    • Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States.
      • ~20% of Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime.
    • Evidence points to an association between tanning bed use and squamous cell and basal cell carcinomas.
    • Data increasingly demonstrate an association between tanning bed use and melanoma.

    7/24/12 22:42 JR

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