Consumer Division issues warning on sunbeds

Dermatologists' warnings about the link between sunbed use and skin cancer are being taken more seriously, with the Consumer and Competition Division yesterday reiterating a warning recently issued by the European Commission.

The division has appealed to the public and the sunbed industry to be conscious and well informed about the risks posed by exposure to sunbed rays.

"Simple and clear information is the basis to guarantee good health and safety to all consumers using ultraviolet radiation sunbeds," it said.

Sunbeds are artificial tanning devices which emit ultraviolet radiation and are used to induce artificial tanning.

People under 18 and those with a certain skin type (including people whose skin burns easily, have freckles or moles and a family history of cancer) should not use tanning devices for cosmetic purposes, the division said, echoing the Commission's warning.

Dermatologists have long been ringing the warning bells regarding sunbeds. Malta Association of Dermatology and Venereology president Joseph Pace said dermatology associations have repeatedly said that sunbeds can pose a health hazard.

"It is not a safe thing to do," he said, adding that in the United States sun exposure is considered a dangerous activity.

Dr Pace, who is also the general secretary of the European Association of Dermatology and Venereology, said the extent of the risk depends on a number of factors, including the rays' strength, the time spent on a sunbed and the person's skin.

People with a family history of skin cancer might also be more susceptible to develop the potentially deadly disease.

"It is like putting your hand on fire. We don't think it's a very good idea and do not encourage it since it is thought to be a risk factor," he said.

Moreover, nowadays there are a number of creams and sprays that give people tanned-looking skin without exposure to ultraviolet rays, whether from the sun or artificially. "If someone wants brown skin, I would recommend using fake tans instead of exposing himself to the sun," Dr Pace said.

According to the report presented to the European Commission by the Scientific Committee on Consumer Products, commercial sunbeds came into widespread use in the 1990s, after they were developed 20 odd years previously.

Therefore, the committee argued, the full health effects of artificial tanning are not yet known and it would take several years before there is a real picture of the role of sunbeds in inducing skin cancer.