Sunbeds 'As Damaging As Smoking', Report Finds

Using sunbeds can be as damaging to your health as smoking, a new report published today has found.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) had previously assessed sunbeds or sunlamps as "probably carcinogenic", but has now said their use is definitively "carcinogenic to humans".

Analysis by the international cancer specialists has concluded that all types of ultra-violet (UV) radiation are as dangerous as tobacco smoke in causing cancer or exposure to asbestos.

It also found that tanning machines emitting UV light can increase the risk of skin tumours by 75%, in a special report published in the Lancet.

"The use of UV-emitting tanning devices is widespread in many developed countries, especially among young women," the authors of the report wrote.

"A comprehensive meta-analysis concluded that the risk of skin melanoma is increased by 75% when use of tanning devices starts before 30 years of age."

Kathy Banks, chief executive of the Sunbed Association said: "The relationship between UV exposure and an increased risk of developing skin cancer is only likely to arise where over-exposure, in other words burning, has taken place.

"However, research has shown that over 80% of sunbed users are very knowledgeable about the risks associated with over-exposure to ultraviolet and the majority of sunbed users take 20 or less sunbed sessions a year."

Jessica Harris, Cancer Research UK's health information officer, however, supported the findings.

She said: "The link between sunbeds and skin cancer has been convincingly shown in a number of scientific studies now and so we are very pleased that IARC have upgraded sunbeds to the highest risk category.

"This backs up Cancer Research UK's advice to avoid sunbeds completely for cosmetic purposes. They have no health benefits and we know that they increase the risk of cancer."

(JM/BMcc)