Indoor tanning with sun beds is not safe

Scientists made a startling announcement Thursday: safe tans do not exist. This conclusion was found in research reports that reviewed published scientific studies on tans and skin cancer. The three separate but closely related reports were prepared by researchers from the U.S. and the U.K.

The doctors say there is solid evidence that tans and skin cancer originate from the same thing: DNA damage, which results from exposure of skin to ultraviolet light:

* It is DNA damage that triggers signals in skin cells which lead to the skin developing a tan.

* DNA damage is also the start of cell mutations that eventually lead to skin cancer.

* This implies there cannot be any such thing as a safe tan.

The doctors published their findings in the journal Pigment Cell and Melanoma Research. They came from St George’s Hospital Medical School, University of London; the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston; and the University of New Mexico Cancer Center.

The doctors also found strong evidence that the use of sun beds and prolonged exposure to sunlight in childhood significantly increases the chances of developing skin cancer later in life.

Their conclusion is emphatic: "UV radiation exposure is 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."

The doctors also emphasize that any kind of tan poses risks regardless of the source, whether it comes from sunshine on the beach or sun beds in indoor tanning salons.

The study from the University of New Mexico concluded that existing data do not support claims that tanning beds are safer than direct sun exposure; instead, sun beds may be associated with an increased risk for melanoma.

There is evidence that the risk of melanoma rose by 75 percent in those who began using sun beds when they were younger than age 35.

For this reason, the UK doctors are proposing a ban on the use of sun beds for young people under 18, along with a clampdown on advertising that purport to show sun beds are safe to use.

The UK Sunbed Association disagreed, saying they have found no medical or scientific evidence that indicates the the age when people can use a sunbed should be raised from 16 to 18 years old. The US Indoor Tanning Association also insists sun beds are safe to use and that moderate UV exposure promotes production of vitamin D which is beneficial to health.

According to the World Health Organization, about 60,000 people die each year worldwide from excessive exposure to ultraviolet light.

By American Cancer Society estimates, over 1 million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer and 60,000 cases of melanoma are diagnosed each year in the U.S.

Safety Tips:

* Take Vitamin D supplements. The daily requirement can be easily filled through supplements. It makes no sense to be exposed to cancer-causing UV light just to get a vitamin.

* Avoid using sun beds. Cancer organizations and every reputable medical association say that indoor tanning with sun beds is unsafe.