There are concerns that pressure from social media to have a tan may lead more people to use sunbeds
A dermatologist has issued an urgent cancer warning over the use of sunbeds. Dr Emma Wedgeworth says the tanning devices are ‘really damaging to our skin’ increasing the risk of cancer and causing premature ageing.
The British Association of Dermatologists advises that people should not use sunbeds or sunlamps, while the NHS says that sunbeds ‘can be more dangerous than natural sunlight because they use a concentrated source of UV radiation’ and risk causing skin cancer.
Despite this, new data released by the charity Melanoma Focus has found that over a quarter (28 per cent) of adults in the UK say they use sunbeds, rising to 43 per cent of 18 to 25 year olds. Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, kills 2,300 people in the UK per year.
Over the last decade, melanoma skin cancer incidence rates have increased by around a third (32%) in the UK. Dr Wedgeworth said: “Sunbeds are really damaging to our skin. We know that if you do use sunbeds, you increase your risk of melanoma, you can increase your risk of other skin cancers, and you will prematurely age your skin. From a skin perspective, sunbeds really are quite dangerous.
“Sunbeds work by emitting UVB and UVA in an intense way compared to sun. All UV light suppresses the immune system so can improve psoriasis and eczema but a high-risk way of doing it. Better ways too.
“I have much better treatments as a dermatologist to treat eczema and psoriasis than a sunbed so I really urge people not to treat these conditions with a sunbed. But I know it is hard because people want to get rid of their skin conditions and access to a dermatologist is really hard, so I do get it.
“It is much more dangerous (than the sun). The amount of UVA and the way it hits the skin is more intense than an average sunlight and even 10 minutes in a sunbed is like two or three hours in the Mediterranean.”
Countries such as Australia and Brazil have already banned sunbeds. The Sunbed Association says professional sunbeds are well-regulated, children are banned and guidance is provided on the number of sessions allowed.
In the UK, public awareness of the dangers of sunbed use is low with only 62 per cent of people knowing that sunbed use increases the risk of skin cancer. This dropped to 52 per cent of 18 to 25 year olds.
Worryingly, 23% of 18 to 25-year-olds believe that sunbed use actually decreases the risk of skin cancer. There are concerns that pressure from social media to have a tan may lead more people – especially youngsters – to use sunbeds.
The high use and lack of awareness of the dangers in younger people is a particular concern as studies have found that first exposure to indoor tanning before age 35 years is associated with a 75 per cent increased risk of developing skin cancer.
