Sunbeds increase your exposure to sunlight and subsequently give you a higher chance of developing skin cancer.
Statistics show that non-melanoma and malignant melanoma are the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the UK.
According to Cancer Research UK, sunbeds are estimated to cause around 100 deaths from melanoma every year in the UK.
Sunbeds cause the body to tan in exactly the same way as the sun, by emitting ultraviolet rays, UVA and UVB radiation.
This stimulates melanin which is a skin pigment.
Melanin is produced by cells called melanocytes. UV exposure stimulates these cells to divide creating more melanin, which browns as it rises to the skin’s surface and causes a tan.
How quickly we burn or tan depends on our skin type. Skin experts have classified skin types into six groups:
type one for people with porcelain white skin (often accompanied by red hair, green eyes and lots of freckles),
through to type six for natural black skin.
In between are groups ranging from those with fair to natural brown skin. The darker our skin, the more melanin we have and the better protected our skin is from ultraviolet light.
Sunbeds can emit either UVA or UVB rays from their fluorescent tubes, depending on the machine. Modern machines often produce higher levels of UVB to create a rapid and more natural tan. But UVB has a higher association with sunburn and cancer.
Some modern tanning machines can emit UV radiation up to five times stronger than the midday Australian summer sun.
“Sunbeds provide a strong dose of UV and you don’t know how much UV exposure you are getting” reports Megan Dawe, senior skin cancer screening nurse at The Mole Clinic in London. ‘The changing colour when you tan shows the skin is being damaged.’
Cancer Research UK have said, using sunbeds under the age of 35 can increase the risk of melanoma by 75 per cent. Professor James Ferguson, head of the University Department of Dermatology in Dundee, says UV damages the DNA in skin cells, which increases the risk of skin cancer and ages the skin.
Self Tan
Self-tanning products are generally available as a cream, lotion, or spray and is considered to be the healthiest way to get a tinted complexion. But think again! Experts are warning against frequent use as the chemicals in self-tanning products can cause cancer as well as allergies and fertility problems. Self-tanning products can also increase the risk of birth defects in pregnant women.