Sunbeds kids under 16 should not use them

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 21 Mar 2004 - 0:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

The risk of cancer is so high for children under sixteen that they should be banned from using sunbeds. This is according to a joint statement by the Sunbed Association (UK) and Cancer Research UK.

The Sunbed Association and Cancer Research UK both called for coin-operated tanning salons to be shut down. They would both like to see European guidelines for all other tanning businesses.

The Sunbed Association represents about 25% of all sunbed salons in the UK. The Sunbed Association and Cancer Research UK are in talks with the UK government to see how they can go about introducing new guidelines.

Kathy Banks, secretary of the Sunbed Association, said "As part of our code of practice under-16s are not allowed to use sunbeds. We know there are non-member operators out there who ignore some or, even worse, all safety guidelines. Customers need to be given proper advice and information about using sunbeds responsibly. At present we have around 2,000 members which represent around 25 per cent of tanning facilities in the UK. We would like to see all operators working to our code."

Cancer Research UK is pleased to see that the Sunbed Association is helping to regulate the industry.

Sara Hiorn, from Cancer Research UK said "We would certainly like to see clear and strict guidelines for use wherever sunbed facilities are offered. This should include a list of those groups of people most at risk from sunbed use and strongly advising them against it."

She said all sunbeds should carry permanent warnings.

Malignant melanoma increased by 24% during the 1995-2000 period.

Malignant melanoma is the third most common cancer among the 15-39 age group. About 7,000 cases are diagnosed in the UK each year - 1,700 people die from it each year. There are 62,500 cases of non-melanoma skin cancer each year in the UK.

WHAT IS MALIGNANT MELANOMA?

Melanoma skin cancer starts in the melanocyte cells of the skin. The skin protects our body from heat, injury, infection, water loss and sunlight. Its outermost layer is called the epidermis, which consists of flat, scaly squamous cells.

Squamous cells contain a protein (keratin) that makes the skin strong, but flexible. Round basal cells and melanocytes (the cells that give the skin its colour) lie deeper in the epidermis.

Beneath the epidermis is the dermis that contains nerves, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, sweat glands, oil glands and hair follicles.

Melanocytes produce a pigment called melanin that gives the skin its colour and protects it from sun damage.

Darker skin has more melanin and more protection. When skin is exposed to the sun, it produces more pigment and tans. Melanocytes often cluster together and form moles (nevi).

Most moles are benign, but some may go on to become malignant melanomas.

Melanomas are divided into 4 main types, depending on their location, shape and whether they grow outward or downward into the dermis:

-- superficial, spreading or flat: grows outwards at first to form an irregular pattern on the skin with an uneven colour

-- nodular: lumpy and often blue-black in colour may grow faster and spread downwards

-- acral melanomas: occur on the palms of the hand, soles of the feet or nailbeds

-- lentigo maligna: usually occur on the faces of elderly people

Melanoma can also start in the mucous membranes of the mouth, anus and vagina, in the eye or other places in the body where melanocytes are found.

Source 'What is Malignant Melanoma?': Canadian Cancer Society