There is increasing evidence that the inappropriate use of sunbeds contributes to the incidence of skin cancer. Sunbeds give out harmful UV rays which damage the DNA in our skin cells. Cancer Research UK (CRUK) estimates that sunbeds cause around 100 deaths from melanoma every year in the UK. The more you use a sunbed the greater your risk of skin cancer. Using a sunbed once a month or more can increase your risk of skin cancer by more than half. So when the tan fades, the damage remains. Sunbeds also cause premature skin ageing, which means that your skin becomes coarse, leathery and wrinkled at a younger age.
The CIEH is currently working with CRUK, through the Sunsmart campaign, to look at potential ways of controlling the use of sunbeds. We have already achieved considerable success in our campaign to get sunbeds removed from local authority-run leisure centres. However, a survey which we conducted in June 2011 revealed that a significant number of councils still offer sunbeds for public use, despite having a legal duty to protect and improve public health.
Working with CRUK we successfully supported the passing by Parliament of the Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010 The Act prohibits sunbed businesses from allowing persons under 18 to use or have access to their sunbeds from 08 April 2011 and includes powers to make further regulations on sunbed use, for example regarding the supervision of sunbed use, the provision of protective eyewear and the provision of information on the health risks.
We also worked with the HSE on the revision in 2008 of its guidance note on controlling health risks from the use of UV tanning equipment. 1 Although the revision helps to provide more detailed guidance on the health risks involved, we are urging the Government to go further. We strongly support the Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010 and will be lobbying for the prompt implementation of its provisions, including the proposed ban on unmanned facilities, and will be working with the Department of Health and others to produce guidance on the Act for local authority enforcement officers.
Research carried out by the CIEH in Wales in 2008 found that more than half of tanning salons surveyed, both manned and unmanned, will allow children under 16 to use a sunbed and a staggering 88 percent of premises would allow a customer to have a tanning session every day despite the risk of skin cancer.2
In June 2009 The Committee on the Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE) published the report of a working group set up to provide advice to the government on the need for additional controls on sunbeds.3 The working group, upon which the CIEH was represented, recommended the following measures:
- Prohibiting the use of commercial sunbeds by under 18s
- Prohibiting the unsupervised use and/or self determined operation of sunbeds in commercial outlets
- All commercial outlets should be licensed/registered, with equipment that adheres to the British Standard
- Salons to have trained and competent staff
- Salons should be required to provide detailed written information on the health risks associated with the use of sunbeds
- Commercial outlets should be prohibited from promoting unproven health benefits of sunbed use.
The Report concluded that there is evidence to suggest an increased risk of skin cancer among those who use sunbeds before the age of 35. The CIEH is now working with the Department of Health and Cancer Research UK to look at the recommendations put forward by COMARE.
The link to cancer has been reinforced by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) which has now classified sunbeds as carcinogens. Previously IARC had classed sunbeds as 'probably carcinogenic to humans'. In the light of this finding the UK Health Protection Agency has reiterated its advice that the use of sunbeds for cosmetic tanning should be discouraged and that they should never be used by anyone under 18 years of
age. 4
Sunbeds do not just harm people in Britain. They are becoming a cause for concern across the world. The CIEH is currently working with the European Society of Skin Cancer Prevention (Euroskin) to develop a code of practice that will apply to sunbed salons across the continent.
An HSE poster designed to raise awareness of the problems associated with sunbeds can be downloaded here.
Further information on the risks associated with sunbeds can be downloaded from the
Sunsmart website
References
1 Revised HSE Guidance. Reducing health risks from the use of ultraviolet (UV) tanning equipment. INDG209.
2 CIEH press release on the Wales sunbed survey. Feb 2009
3 COMARE. 13th Report. The health effects and risks arising from exposure to ultraviolet radiation from artificial tanning devices. June 2009
4 HPA advice on sunbeds. July 2009