A leading specialist has warned the public not to use sunbeds following the publication of an Irish Cancer Society study that shows one in five users have experienced burning.
Dr Gillian Murphy, consultant dermatologist at Beaumont Hospital, said the society's figures, which show an increase in sunbed use, are "extremely worrying".
Dr. Gillian Murphy
The society's research shows 185,000 people in Ireland use sunbeds - 10 per cent of whom use them at least once a week. The survey, conducted by market-research firm Behaviour and Attitudes among a sample of 1,200 adults, also found 21 per cent of users had experienced burning.
"The trend in using sunbeds and the frequency of usage is extremely worrying. A sunbed tan is induced through concentrated exposure to high levels of UV light and all forms of UV light contribute to skin cancer," Dr Murphy said.
Other harmful side effects include depletion in natural collagen and premature ageing of the skin, which results in loss of elasticity, wrinkling, freckling and discolouration, she continued.
The most recent figures from the National Cancer Registry show around 5,500 new cases of skin cancer are reported annually, making it the most common type of cancer in Ireland.
Ireland has the third-highest rate of malignant melanoma in the EU, figures show. The condition is the most dangerous form of skin cancer and accounts for two thirds of annual deaths from the disease in Ireland.
"Medical advice is to avoid the use of sunbeds at all times," Dr Murphy said.
The society's research also shows a worrying level of young people using sunbeds. Some 13 per cent of users were aged 25-34 while 9 per cent - nearly 18,000 people - were aged between 15 and 24.
Ms Elaine Glynn, health promotion manager at the Irish Cancer Society, expressed particular concern about the amount of young women availing of sunbeds.
She said many appear to believe sunbeds provide a "base tan" that can be enhanced in natural sunlight. "This is not true. Tanned skin is damaged skin, whether the tan is obtained through sunbed use or by sunbathing on the beach," she said.