Sunbed Ban For Minors Supported

Support is flowing in for a proposal to ban the use of sunbeds for minors and also for ending unstaffed tanning facilities.

The NI Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has launched a consultation on new regulations to help prevent skin cancer.

In NI tanning salons are not subject to direct statutory regulation and there are no age restrictions on who can use them. For this reason, the Minister is calling for banning under-18s using sunbeds and also unsupervised tanning booths.

In Scotland, the law bans minors from using sunbeds and salons can be fined £100 if they are caught letting younger people use them. Also in England and Wales a similar proposal is being unertaken.

Children are especially sensitive to ultraviolet light: just one day of burning increases the risk of getting skin cancer as compated to an adult.

More and more links between sunbed usage and the development of skin cancer are being underlined and its contribution to malignant melanoma development is estimated to be around 100 deaths per year across the UK.

Besides, these skin cancer cases have increased considerably from around 80 recorded cases in 1984 to 233 in 2007 in NI.

The NI Department of Health estimates currently there are over 400 outlets offering sunbed sessions with a wide variation in operating practices and poor standards among some providers.

Sandra Gordon, Melanoma Strategy Co-ordinator, Ulster Cancer Foundation said they are delighted with the consultation and highlighted the "need for improved safety standards for operators".

Cancer Research UK states that sunbeds are not a safe alternative to sunbathing, because they deliver concentrated doses of UVA that cause skin damage.

Although the tan fades, the damage to the skin remains and puts a person at a risk both from cancer and from premature ageing of the skin.

Warning people to be more aware of the potential risks associated with overexposure to ultraviolet radiation, Mr McGimpsey said sunbeds are increasing in popularity due to the perception a bronzed body equates to health and beauty.

The Minister's initiative has also been welcomed by BMA NI Council, where the Chairman Dr Paul Darragh said: "We believe that there should be a thorough regulation of sunbed operators, and that tighter controls will have a positive impact on skin cancer prevention efforts."

(CL/BMcC)