While a social media trend pushes young people toward risky tanning, experts also warn about the dangers of hepatitis B and C, which can remain symptom-free for years and potentially lead to liver cancer.
Two seemingly unrelated health issues share a common danger: they can go unnoticed for years before causing severe, sometimes fatal, consequences. On one hand, the trend of using tanning beds among young people dramatically increases the risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. On the other, viral hepatitis B and C continue to pose a global public health challenge, with many infected individuals in Croatia unaware of their diagnosis.
As reported by Klix.ba, the story of Nichole Sims serves as a stark warning. She started using tanning beds at age 15, influenced by her peers and upcoming school events. Just eight years later, she was diagnosed with melanoma. "I just feel like our generation doesn't really research the risks much. They simply live in the moment," Sims told Klix.ba. Today, she shares her experience on social media, trying to counter the misinformation that portrays a tanned complexion as the ideal of beauty.
Dr. Pedram Gerami from Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, whose research was highlighted by Klix.ba, has uncovered alarming data at the cellular level. His team found that tanning bed users have nearly three times the risk of developing melanoma compared to non-users. Analysis of melanocytes-skin cells that can become cancerous-showed that the rate of DNA mutations in tanning bed users is more than double that of individuals exposed only to natural sunlight.
"Just two or three mutations in the right place are enough to turn into melanoma," Gerami warned. The World Health Organization has long classified tanning beds as carcinogens, placing them in the same category as tobacco and asbestos. According to data from the American Academy of Dermatology, cited by Klix.ba, using tanning beds before age 20 increases the likelihood of developing melanoma by 47 percent. Adding to the concern is the fact that tanning beds can emit more than ten times the UV radiation of the sun.
While global trends are worrying, Croatia faces another silent health risk. According to data from the Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ), reported by Telegram.hr, the prevalence of hepatitis B and C in the general Croatian population is less than one percent. However, among individuals in high-risk groups-such as intravenous drug users or those with multiple sexual partners-infections are significantly more common. Over the past five years, Croatia has reported an average of 42 cases of hepatitis B and 89 cases of hepatitis C annually, but experts warn that the actual numbers may be higher.
"In many cases, hepatitis leads to a chronic form of the disease that is only recognized after severe complications of liver disease (cirrhosis or liver cancer) have developed, when treatment outcomes are significantly poorer. Timely detection of the disease is crucial for preventing its spread and achieving better treatment results," HZJZ stated for Telegram.hr.
The global numbers are devastating. According to World Health Organization data for 2024, approximately 240 million people worldwide were living with chronic hepatitis B, and nearly 47 million had a chronic hepatitis C infection. That same year, hepatitis caused about 1.3 million deaths. Similarly, the American Cancer Society estimates that more than 100,000 new melanomas will be diagnosed in the United States this year, with around 8,500 deaths expected.
Although the goal of global hepatitis elimination is set for 2030, progress has been slow. Croatia has a well-developed prevention system-hepatitis B vaccination is administered in infancy, and treatment for hepatitis C with modern medications is widely available and highly effective. Nevertheless, HZJZ warns that the biggest obstacles remain declining vaccination rates and a large number of undiagnosed individuals. Therefore, anyone belonging to high-risk groups is advised to get tested at centers for anonymous and free counseling and testing across Croatia, without a referral or health insurance card.
