Korean Doctors Concerned About Asian Tanning Trend
The growing popularity of tanning in East Asia has Korean dermatologists keeping a close eye on skin cancer rates.
Although the number of skin cancer cases reported in Asian countries is still relatively low when compared to the United States and Australia, statistics from the Korea Central Cancer Registry show incidences of the disease have more than doubled since 1995.
Until recently, traditional Asian cultures preferred lighter porcelain complexions, but now beaches and tanning salons in cities like Hong Kong and Singapore are packed with people bronzing their bodies under ultraviolet rays.
Experts report that the vast majority of new skin cancer cases in Korea are being diagnosed in males. They speculate it’s because cosmetic products containing sunscreen are helping protect more females from the cumulative effects of sun exposure. Still, it may take quite a while for doctors to determine the full impact of the current suntan craze. As one physician put it,
“It takes a long time to cause skin damage, as people get older there is a high chance to develop skin cancer.”
George Li
Plastic Surgeon
Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong
If you’d like to learn more about what you can do to help protect yourself from this common cancer, you can find additional information on the following web sites:
Source: washingtonpost.com
Related Links: abc.net.au; The Arizona Republic
Related Video:
Related Podcast: Melanoma Questions and Answers from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
Korean Link: Korean Dermatological Association
Tags: basal cell carcinoma; squamous cell carcinoma; melanoma
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