Sunbed use rockets as downturn hits holidays

Published on Sunday 10 May 2009 23:15

A FIFTH of sunbed users plan to increase their tanning sessions as the credit crunch has stopped them booking a summer holiday, according to a survey by a leading cancer charity.

Cancer Research UK (CRUK), which launches its Sun Awareness Week today, warned that skin damage caused trying to get a "healthy" glow could last a lifetime.

The warning came as research showed a third of more than 2,000 people surveyed said they were less likely to go on a summer holiday this year due to the recession.

It is estimated that sunbed use causes an 100 skin cancer deaths in the UK each year.

Experts have warned that Scotland has a "skin cancer epidemic". Scottish government figures released last month showed the number of cases had soared by 50 per cent among men and 30 per cent among women within a decade.

Katy Scammell, CRUK's SunSmart campaign manager, said: "As the recession takes its toll on people's holiday plans, what is clear is that a tan is still something that many people value and aspire to.

"Using a sunbed may seem like a cheap, quick fix to achieve that summer glow yet, while the process may only take a few moments, the damage can last a lifetime."

Ms Scammell said the intensity of some UV rays from sunbeds can be up to 15 times higher than that of the midday sun, and using a sunbed once a month can increase the risk of skin cancer by more than half.

"Exposure to these harmful rays increases your risk of melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer."

But Gill Perkins, from The Sunbed Association (TSA), which represents about a fifth of UK sunbed parlours, accused CRUK of perpetrating "myths" to scare people.

Ms Perkins said: "CRUK, through the government-funded SunSmart campaign, is using its valuable funds to perpetuate myths about sunbed use and scare people away from using sunbeds when the available science does not support their claims."

Dr Michael Edward, from the department of dermatology at the University of Glasgow, said: "A lot of people still think it is a lot safer to use a sunbed than to lie out in the sun. But if they are made aware they could cause sun cancer and age the skin, leaving it thickened and wrinkled, they might think twice.

"Outdoors, the best advice is to wear sunscreen, even if there is only fairly light cloud, and a hat."

Meanwhile, a separate survey by Columbia sportswear found more than a quarter of Scots do not use any sun-protection products because they are seen as "too much hassle".

UV WARNING

LAST year the Scottish Government banned the sale, hire or unsupervised use of sunbeds for the under-18s.

The British Medical Association said sunbeds should not be used by under-16s; people who burn easily; those with lots of freckles or moles; those who have had skin cancer; those using medication that could make their skin more sensitive to UV light or those who already have extensive UV radiation damage.