Analysis: Proximity to Tanning Facilities Correlates with Increased Melanoma Incidence in New England

Key Takeaways

• Counties closer to tanning facilities (within 30 minutes) reported higher melanoma rates.

• Vermont and New Hampshire exhibited the highest melanoma rates, with coastal proximity playing a role in regional disparities.

• Latitude, socioeconomic factors, and travel access to tanning beds significantly affect melanoma incidence patterns.

Results from a new analysis suggest a correlation between proximity to tanning facilities and higher melanoma incidence rates in New England counties.

The spatial epidemiological analysis drew upon New England county–level melanoma incidence rates (2014–2018), tanning bed facilities location, demographic data, socioeconomic data, and geographic data obtained from the National Cancer Institute State Cancer Profiles, Data Axle, American Community Survey, and United States Geological Survey.

According to the results, the authors identified Vermont and New Hampshire as regions with the highest melanoma incidence in the area, with Grand Isle, VT reporting the highest county rate (57.8 per 100,000). Geographic patterns suggested higher melanoma rates near coastal areas. Clustering of high-incidence counties were also reported, primarily in Vermont and New Hampshire. Low-incidence clusters were concentrated in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Multivariable spatial regression models showed that latitude significantly influenced melanoma rates, with each one-degree increase in latitude correlating with a 32% reduction in county-level melanoma incidence. Median household income and age also positively correlated with melanoma incidence.

“The identification of clusters of melanoma incidence can help inform the strategic targeting of interventions and resources that aim to reduce the burden of melanoma," the authors concluded. "The negative association between travel time to tanning facilities and county-level melanoma incidence rate suggests that decreasing access to indoor tanning facilities may help reduce the regional melanoma incidence rate; however, additional research with detailed tanning behavioral data is needed."

The authors acknowledged limitations such as the ecological fallacy and the lack of individual-level data on tanning behaviors. 

Source: Wei G, et al. Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 2025. Doi:0.1016/j.jid.2024.04.038