Truth about sunbeds

What is the truth about sunbeds? 

  • Truth about sunbeds posterExperts agree that sunbeds cause cancer and that sunbed users have an increased risk of developing melanoma the most serious type of skin cancer.
  • The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) recently reclassified sunbeds from ‘probably carcinogenic’ to ‘carcinogenic’. This puts sunbeds in the same category as tobacco, alcohol and asbestos.
  • Sunbeds give out UV rays which damage the DNA in our skin cells. Over time, this damage can build up and may eventually lead to skin cancer.
  • Sunbeds are not a safe alternative to tanning outdoors.
  • Young people are particularly at risk of the damaging effects of sunbeds – sunbed users under the age of 35 have a 75% increased risk of developing skin cancer.
  • Using a sunbed once a month or more can increase the risk of skin cancer by more than half.
  • As well as increasing the risk of skin cancer, sunbeds have other effects too – they cause premature ageing and can make your skin look wrinkly and leathery before its time. Check out Cancer Research UK’s recent press release to see the damage to Hollyoaks actress Gemma Merna’s skin.

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Why are Cancer Research UK and Healthier Scotland running this campaign?

Cancer Research UK has teamed up with Healthier Scotland to run the ‘Truth about sunbeds’ campaign. The campaign aims to highlight the health risks of using sunbeds, and draw attention to a new law regulating the use of sunbeds in Scotland. Under the new law, from 1st December 2009:

  • Operators are banned from allowing the use of sunbeds by under 18s in commercial premises
  • The sale or hire of sunbeds to under 18s is prohibited
  • Operators are prohibited from allowing unsupervised use of sunbeds
  • Operators of a sunbed premise have a duty to display a public information notice
  • Operators are required to provide customers with information on the health risks associated with sunbed use

 

 

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About the campaign

  • The ‘calendar’ style poster is being displayed in shopping malls across Scotland for four weeks from 1st December 2009.
  • A digital version of the poster is being displayed on the big screens in Glasgow and Edinburgh train stations (see below)
  • The campaign is aimed at young people – mainly young women – a group which is particularly likely to use sunbeds
  • The calendar poster is intended to illustrate that while using sunbeds may seem harmless, there can be serious long-term consequences.

 

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Press activity

Cancer Research UK and Healthier Scotland issued a press release which highlighted the case of Caroline Begg (29) from Glasgow. Caroline was a regular sunbed user and was diagnosed with skin cancer at the age of 26. Caroline said “When I noticed a mole had changed the way it looked I went to my GP and was stunned to learn I had developed skin cancer. I wish I had known earlier just how dangerous sunbeds can be and I count myself lucky that my cancer was caught in time to be successfully treated.”

  • View Caroline's appearance on STV.
  • Gemma Wardell (25) was diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer last year. Watch her appearance on BBC Scotland.

 

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More information

More detailed information about sunbeds is available on the sunbeds page of the SunSmart website.

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