Cancer society urges sunbed ban as usage rises

Cancer society: The Irish Cancer Society (ICS) is calling for a ban on sunbeds, following new research that shows 7 per cent of Irish people use sunbeds.

"Sunbeds are completely unsafe and represent significant danger to the consumer," said an ICS spokesperson.

Sunbeds emit two forms of ultraviolent light - UVA and UVB - both of which cause skin cancer.

The survey, which was carried out by the ICS in April, found that while the majority of sunbed users are aged 15-34, 6 per cent admitted to using sunbeds for the first time before the age of 15.

One in four sunbed users also admitted to using sunbeds when they were 15-19 years old.

"The popularity in sunless tanning seems to be increasing, probably as a result of increased availability and access across the country," said Anita Murphy, health promotion officer at the ICS.

The ICS has joined forces with the Environmental Health Officers Association (EHOA) to encourage self-regulation of the sector.

"Currently, anybody can set up a self-tanning booth or sunbeds in a beauty salon without a licence and without regular inspection," said Ann Marie Part, chairwoman of the EHOA.

The EHOA and ICS are also concerned that there is no minimum standard of training of staff operating sunbeds. "In Scotland recently, two children aged 11 and 13 were hospitalised with burns following repeated use of sunbeds. We need to give children the message that they don't have to have a tan to look cool and that tanned skin is damaged skin. We also need regulation which states that no one under the age of 18 is permitted to use sunbeds," said Ms Part.

The ICS also recommends that sunbeds should never be used by people who burn easily or tan poorly, those suffering from skin disorders induced or aggravated by exposure to sunlight and those with a history of skin cancer.

There is also a concern that those using sunbeds are exposing parts of their body that may not normally be exposed to the sun and, therefore, an increased surface area of the skin is receiving the harmful effects of ultraviolent radiation.

The EHOA is conducting research among sunbed providers looking at the type of sunbeds available, how usage is supervised and whether customers are guided on the appropriate length of sessions and time between sessions. The results will be published next month.