Burning desire for a tan

[AB Asks]

Experts have warned the risk of developing skin cancer has trebled over the last ten years due to the people's burning desire for sun kissed skin. The emergence of super-powerful sunbeds means getting the perfect tan is easily done. Extra strong sunlamps used in many sunbeds emit as much as three times the harmful UV rays as sunbeds did ten years ago. Studies show that using sunbeds as a teenager can radically increase the risk of skin cancer.

What do you think about sunbeds generally? Should there be laws preventing under-18s using them? Or should be it completely up to the individual as to whether or not they use them regardless of the lethal consequences?

[nat_84]

Is it me or is this question pink?

[Lady Muck]

It's a sun tan... it'll go brown in a few days.

[Pippa68]

Beat me to it, China!

I am not a sunbed fan anyway..no matter how old a person is, it is way too risky.

Use fake bake or get a spray tan :o)

[dot.hawkes]

where have you seen this warning? what were they experts in? These super powerful sunbeds you refer to, does that not mean that we just need to use them less?
Have they related the development of skin cancer in people using sunmbds against the chances of these people developing ir anyway at some stage? What are the percentages of skin types that develop it as a direct result of using sunbeds against the same skin typew develping it that didn't use them?
can you use the Google Scholar search to link us to this updated research?

[stylinsam]

personally i think that if a person wants to use a sunbed then that is entirely up to them why should we be concerned for other people using somebeds its there own choice..

[dot.hawkes]

it's ok i found it
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bsc/bjd/ 2003/00000149/00000003/art00020
be more specific in futue we had no data to make an informed decision with

[stylinsam]

sunbeds* lol

[Supernick]

Is this question corporately sponsored?

[Lady Muck]

http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp? page=3006#sunbeds

[Supernick]

If it is I'm not answering.

[Lady Muck]

Actually Nick, it is. Go figure....

[Octavius]

Freedom of choice y�all, and protect the service providers. If a teeny bopper wants to spend ten minutes making herself look orange then that is her prerogative so long as she is fully aware of all the consequences, preventing her from suing the shop. In this day and age, people should be informed enough to take responsibility for their actions without blaming others. If they aren�t then it really is their own fault for being ignorant in the first place.

Do I get �50 for my views now? Cash will do.

[Champagne]

Good link Dotty.

I'm back to using sunbeds at the moment. I'm a natural blonde and have very very naturally pale skin (verging on milk white!) and scattered freckles. Regardless of my pale skin type, I actually tan pretty easily. I used to use sunbeds years ago but stopped after I started working in London and the nearest tanning salon only had high powered sunbeds (I was on the bed for 5 minutes a time and I found it too intense). Now I've taken them up again but I do only ever use the lower powered beds.

It purely is a vanity thing. I simply like having a tan because when I'm 'pale & interesting' my skin shows up every single flaw, plus there are lots of colours that I have to avoid wearing. When I'm tanned I can wear anything and, frankly, I feel confident naked!!!

But to put things into perspective, Dot's link summed it up for me. I'm probably more worried about my binge drinking habit at weekends than I am about getting skin cancer from sunbed use. If I am to worry about cancer, then I would be more concerned about the chemicals which are added to processed foods and their longterm affects rather than sun exposure. I think convenience food is another contributing factor in the increase of cancer over the past couple of decades.

And by the way, I've never ever smoked, but I have been a passive smoker for the past 15 years.

[Athley]

I refuse to answer corporate sponsored questerions

[Athley]

* questions even!

[Madgirl2]

What about the huge cost to the NHS (and us all as taxpayers) when treating skin cancer - bearing in mind the increase in sunbed use could give us a skin cancer explosion in years to come? We already have wards bursting at the seams because of the disregard people show to their health!!!!

[Octavius]

Well that is clouding the view slightly. If an age limit was imposed, then the little cherubs would lie cheat and steal their way to getting a sesh on a bed, just like they do for the cancer sticks and brewers slop.

I do believe that there should be an element of protection for these youngsters but preventing them from doing something because of their age is counter-productive as they will view it like flies to a bucket of turd � far too tempting to resist. Much better that they are well aware of the long term consequences and dangers than just denied something, no?

And if global warming is indeed our future (and not the children like Whitney said) then skin cancer may well be a fact of life that the NHS, or in future the Privately Financed Medical Facilities and our Medical Insurers will have to burden through our own premiums.

Wales V, if you must quote me as a source in your thesis, please use my full name:
Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus. Ta.

[dot.hawkes]

madgirl there is no doubt that what you say is a possible truism, but the researchers seem to think the risk is minimal. I personally am looking at the research to try to establish if the type of cancers sunbeds alledgedly trigger would have happened to the person anway, but in later life after years spent in natural sunlight. I do believe that is one aspect of the statistics that is being researched now. If that does prove statistically to be the bigger percentage of the tested cases, then it would simply mean that people are infact alerted to a dormant or inherited condition that they may have developed anyway.