Devon NHS bosses welcome sunbed ban for children

Public health bosses have welcomed a new law that protects children from the risks of using sunbeds.

Devon has some of the highest skin cancer rates in the country and burning can double the risk of getting skin cancer. The county is in the highest 20 per cent of the country for incidence and mortality of skin cancer.

There are around 270 cases of malignant melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, and 40 related deaths each year in Devon. Over 2,100 people in the county are diagnosed each year with other types of skin cancer.

From 8 April 2011 it becomes illegal for tanning salons to allow under 18s to use sunbeds and tanning salons could face fines of up to £20,000 if they choose to ignore the law.

It follows a Bill passed by Parliament last year, backed by MPs, celebrities, health professionals and charities. A Cancer Research UK report showed that almost 1 in 15 children aged 11-17 in England had used a sunbed.

Skin cancer rates are estimated to triple over the next 20-30 years and there are already 100 deaths a year in England from skin cancer as a direct result of people using sunbeds.

Now, NHS Devon’s director of public health is advising people of all ages against using sunbeds and to consider safer ways of tanning, including fake tan.

People who start using sunbeds before the age of 35 increase their risk of developing malignant melanoma by 75 per cent and using a sunbed once a month or more can increase the risk by more than half.

Chelsi Wright, 19, a student at Exeter College, said: “I used a sunbed a few times when I was younger – I stopped after I severely burnt my back.”

Nicky Piper, a beauty tutor at the college, contracted malignant melanoma when she was just 28. She has also had non-melanomas removed. “I have very fair skin and burnt easily when I was younger,” she said.

“I was advised to use sunbeds when I was younger to help ‘prepare’ my skin for the sun but I now know that just added to the problem.

“I wouldn’t want anyone to go through what I’ve experienced with skin cancer. I’m glad this legislation is coming in – I wouldn’t want my children using sunbeds and I’m sure other mums feel the same.”

Dr Virginia Pearson, NHS Devon’s director of public health, said:

“We strongly welcome this new law as it will help protect our young people against harmful ultraviolet rays (UV) that cause skin cancer. UV rays from sunbeds can be up to 15 times stronger than the midday sun.

“It is a common misconception that a suntan is healthy. I would encourage people of all ages to avoid using sunbeds and instead use safer methods of tanning such as fake tan, or to follow the latest fashions for embracing naturally paler skin types. Younger people may feel a tan might look good now, but UV exposure is the biggest cause of early ageing in the skin, making it look coarse, leathery and wrinkled.

“We know that people who have excessive exposure to UV rays before the age of 18 have a greater risk of melanoma (the most serious form of skin cancer) and children who get sunburnt are at a much greater risk of developing skin cancer later in life.