There is no such thing as a safe tan, warn skin cancer experts

Potential damage ranges from premature ageing to skin cancer, including the most deadly form of malignant melanoma, according to new US studies.

Both tanning and skin cancer seem to begin with the same event - DNA damage caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Dying to be tanned: Potential damage ranges from premature ageing to skin cancer

This means that achieving a 'safe' tan with UV radiation may be a physical impossibility, says a series of papers in the latest Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research journal.

They demand a ban on the use of sunbeds by under-18s, along with any publicity that claims that tanning beds are safe.

Dr David Fisher, dermatologist and president of the Society of Melanoma Research, said: 'Ultraviolet radiation exposure represents one of the most avoidable causes of cancer risk and mortality in man.

'Whereas genetic and other factors undoubtedly contribute importantly to skin cancer risk, the role of UV is incontrovertible, and efforts to confuse the public, particularly for purposes of economic gain by the indoor tanning industry, should be vigorously combated for the public health.'

Three million Britons regularly use sunbeds despite growing concern about the health risks, expecially among the young.

The number of cases of the most deadly skin cancer malignant melanoma has risen to almost 9,000 a year, with 1,800 deaths, and it is now the most common cancer in young adults aged 15 to 34 years.

More than 100 deaths from skin cancer every year in the UK are thought to be linked to the use of sunbeds.

Restrictions being considered by Government could ban children under 18 from using sunbeds in England and Wales, while the measure has already been agreed in Scotland.

Under new proposals by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) children under 18 will be banned from using sunbeds and salons will have to be staffed at all times.

The HSE is reviewing of its 1995 guidance on sunbeds at the request of the Department of Health, which is concerned about lack of regulation in the industry and the growth of 'dodgy' backroom sunbed shops.

In a research paper co-authored by Dr Fisher, the health risks of UV exposure are listed as premalignant skin lesions as well as melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer.

It says biological evidence makes it unlikely that doses or delivery strategies exist which could 'uncouple tanning from the carcinogenic risk'.

At least one study reveals a 75 per cent higher risk of melanoma for people who first used a sunbed prior to the age of 35 years, as well as a significant increased risk for 'ever' users compared with those who have never got a tan indoors.

Although previous research has tended to ignore the higher risk of non-melanoma cancers due to sunbeds, this is a 'dangerous omission', it says.

Such cancers can spread and cause thousands of deaths in the US every year, it claims.

Dr Colin Holden, president of the British Association of Dermatologists, said: 'Banning sunbeds for under 18s is one of the measures we have been lobbying for, in addition to banning unsupervised, coin operated sunbeds and making it compulsory to display information about the health risks at all tanning parlours.'

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: 'The Government strongly discourages the use of sunbeds for cosmetic purposes - especially by minors.  

'The Cancer Reform Strategy reaffirmed our commitment to a review of options for possible regulation of the sunbed industry.  

'Firstly we propose gathering more information about the number and distribution of sunbeds and the scale of sunbed use by young people.

'The Health and Safety Executive has also recently consulted on revised guidance for sunbed salon operators and users and will be considering the responses in consultation with the Department of Health.'