Users of Sunbeds -- cancer risk ‘triples’

The risk of sunbed users getting skin cancer may have tripled over the last decade

As sunbed machines get stronger, it would appear that the risk sunbed users have of developing skin cancer may have trebled over the last decade The study also shows that during the past ten years, there has been a 30% rise in unregulated and privately operated sunbeds. Also, the sunbeds are now being supplied with new higher powered lambs. Many sunbeds tanning salons are not properly supervised and are coin-operated. They do not have age limits or place restrictions on the number of sessions. A research study has shown that up to 100 people a year may be killed by cancer caused by sunbeds. The study found that 83 per cent of the sunbeds have UV light outputs that exceed recommendations laid down in the British and European standard. Researcher Dr Harry Moseley of Ninewalls Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, Scotland, called for sunbeds to be regulated so users would be fully informed of the risks. 'Sunbeds should be regulated and there should be a licensing system," he said. "It would force operators to ensure information is given to the public, so that people know they are increasing their risk of skin cancer. The more you use them the more you increase your risk. If people want to use them and it makes them feel good then that is their decision, but they should know what they are getting into." Dr Moseley tested 133 sunbeds in 50 shops, including beauty salons, sports centres, leisure complexes, hairdressers and video shops. He then compared the results to a previous survey from 1997. In Britain, 5,990 people are diagnosed with skin cancer every year and there are 1,600 deaths from the disease. I don't know about anyone else, but I have a lot of friends who use these things in the winter to keep their "glowing" look. I guess this is a huge mistake, one that I've always wondered about.