Sunbeds putting people at great risk of skin cancer, research shows

Sunbeds are putting young people at a greater risk of skin cancer than previously thought.

A laboratory study by the University of Dundee has found that the average skin cancer risk from using one of the beds is over double that of spending the same amount of time in the Mediterranean midday summer sun.

The findings have been published in the British Journal of Dermatology, with levels of ultraviolet radiation from 400 sunbeds being looked at.

It was found that nine in ten of the sunbeds tested released radiation levels above British and European Union standards, with the average strength of radiation approaching twice the recommended limit.

Professor Harry Moseley, consultant medical physicist at University of Dundee and lead author, said: "The development of high-power sunlamps, along with clear failures of the sunbed industry to regulate themselves effectively, is putting young people at an even greater risk of skin cancer than we previously thought.

"We hope that these findings will make people think twice before using sunbeds as you can’t be sure how much radiation you’re exposing yourself to when you try to top-up a tan."

Professor Moseley added that people need to be encouraged to take better care of their skin, or cases of malignant melanoma will rise across the country.

Yinka Ebo, senior health information officer at Cancer Research UK, also commented on the findings, noting that it is "worrying" to see such a high number of sunbeds fail to meet safety standards.

"Research has already shown that using sunbeds for the first time before the age of 35 increases the risk of malignant melanoma by 87 per cent.

"They’re not going to do you any good – the best case scenario is that they’ll age and damage your skin; the worst case scenario is a cancer diagnosis and potentially death," she continued.

Posted by Fiona Griffiths