Noar presents to N.C. health professionals at UNC Multidisciplinary Melanoma Conference

UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media professor Seth M. Noar presented research findings about indoor tanning during the ninth annual UNC Multidisciplinary Melanoma Conference, which convened more than 120 health care professionals from across the state on Feb. 12 to learn about the detection and treatment of melanoma.

Noar, also a UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center member, spoke about his 2014 study published in JAMA Dermatology that found that young women continue to use tanning beds, despite being aware of the health risks associated with indoor tanning. Of 706 university women surveyed, 45 percent indicated they had used tanning beds.

“The evidence is in: we know how bad this is, we know it’s a carcinogen, but we have a lot of work to do in getting the word out, not only to young women who do this behavior, but to parents,” Noar said.

The conference was led by course directors David W. Ollila, M.D., and Nancy E. Thomas M.D., Ph.D., held at the William and Ida Friday Center for Continuing Education, and drew people from a range of health fields.

Read the full release from UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.