Sunbeds may increase risk of dangerous cancer melanoma, says study

Sunbeds that are used in indoor tanning sessions, have been found to have dangerous effects. A new study has warned that sunbeds may increase the risk of melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer, in people.

There has been enormous increase in the cases of melanoma in the last decade, and in 2014 the number of incidence rates was the highest.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) based International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified UV-emitting tanning devices as “carcinogenic to humans” in 2009.

But sunbed is well used in numbers in western countries, and especially by young women.

The study by University of Oslo involved 141,000 Norwegian women for the average of 14 years.

Women who took 30 or more indoor tanning sessions were at increased 32 per cent increased risk of melanoma compared to women who never took the sessions.

In addition, women who started indoor tanning before age 30 were on average two years younger at melanoma diagnosis than never-users.

These associations remained significant after controlling for age, birth-cohort, ambient ultra-violet (UV) radiation of residence, hair colour, skin colour and cumulative number of sunburns and sunbathing vacations.

Researchers also found that six times more UVA and twice as much UVB as the Oslo summer is emitted by modern sunbeds.

The study observations have important implications for public health, as it shows that use of sunbed increases the burden of skin cancer melanoma in societies decreasing the age at diagnosis.