Sunbeds under the spotlight

THE lengths people go to in the quest for "beauty" always surprises Carmela Goodman. The 25-year-old is studying spa beauty therapy at New College Nottingham (ncn) and is learning the techniques that many women crave.

Tanning and skin treatments are within her remit – but Carmela has strong views on sunbed use.

"We've just finished learning about tanning," said the Colwick student. "But we're taught to promote the benefits of spray tanning over sunbed use.

"There needs to be more awareness about the damage that can be done on a sunbed. People even use oil to get extra colour from a sunbed and just cook underneath them."

Carmela's warning comes as health experts around the world warn of the cancer risk caused by sunbeds.

This month, local authorities across Notts – including Broxtowe, Nottingham City, Mansfield, Gedling, Ashfield and Rushcliffe – have organised a series of urgent meetings to review licensing of salons and UV tanning equipment.

It comes after a report by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) – published in the last edition of The Lancet Oncology medical journal – revealed that tanning machines can increase the risk of skin tumours by 75%.

An increased risk has also been identified among sunbed users under 30. A survey in the British Medical Journal found that up to 250,000 11 to 17-year-olds are estimated to have used sunbeds.

Gill Godsell, specialist skin cancer nurse for Nottingham University Hospitals Trust, said: "I think there should be a ban on sunbed use for under 18s like there is in Scotland, which was passed in the summer.

"There should be a ban also on the coin-operated 'tanning' booths' which are in use in the county, These booths are not staffed and offer no guidance about their use, and there have been cases of youngsters suffering third degree burns after using them."

Carmela also believes that tighter regulations should be imposed on salon owners.

"There are people who use them for far too long and far too often," she said. "Some people use them for up to 30 minutes and have to continually top up their colour because it comes off just as quickly as a spray tan."

Fellow ncn student, Natalie Long, 21, from Arnold, agrees.

"I think it's a good idea to look at the industry because sunbeds are bad for you and I do not think you are aware of the dangers at 18," she said.

"You think you are invincible and do not understand that trying to look nice by using a sunbed is counteracting – your skin is deteriorating from 25.

"There are salons that are not staffed properly and I know girls who were going for sunbeds before they were 16 and sometimes getting in a salon using their older sister's ID.

"There should be restrictions on the number of times you can use a sunbed and closer contact between sunbed salons so people can't just go elsewhere when they have already used up their appointments."

The Sunbed Association (TSA) has disputed research from medical experts and has said there is "no proven link" that responsible sunbed use leads to skin cancer.

But public health minister, Gillian Merron has said that voluntary action by the sunbed industry was not enough – and legislation to ban under-18s from using sunbeds is now planned.

More than 2,600 people die from skin cancer each year in the UK, Cancer Research UK said.

Most skin cancer deaths – more than 2,000 a year – are from malignant melanoma, with the majority of non-melanoma skin cancer deaths in elderly people.

The charity said more than half of people who died from malignant melanoma were younger than 70.

People are urged to consult their doctor if they spot any warning signs that could lead to skin cancer.

The joint working project between local councils and sunbed licensing was announced this month. It will enable councils to develop a new application form and licence conditions.

A consultation is taking place between now and January with all those involved in the industry to help form new guidelines by April 2010.

Guidelines for salons and licensing requirements currently vary throughout the country.

Local authorities in Notts require sunbed premises to be licensed, which is not common nationally.

But licenses are not granted according to how responsible a salon is in relation to the amount their facilities are used, or by whom.

The Sunbed Association's Code of Practice is based on the European Standard and Government's guidance which states that UV tanning equipment should not be used by children under 16 years.

However, the sunbed summit has been organised because of the flouting of guidelines and inconsistency of policy across Notts.

A spokeswoman for Broxtowe Borough Council said: "Notts authorities recognised the dangers and risks around sunbed usage and national and international research was being published to that end.

"We suggested that we got together to discuss what could be done on a county-wide basis."

michael.greenwell@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk