We all know that sunbeds aren’t exactly great for our health, but we had no idea that the impact one session can have on your skin was this bad.
A new study today has revealed that using a sunbed once, if you are under the age of 35, almost doubles your risk of developing cancer later on in life.
The Irish Sun reports that scientists have discovered that the skin of younger people is far more susceptible to cell damage, meaning that there is a very high risk that this could eventually trigger tumour growth in later life. Shocking or what?
According to the statistics, there is an 87 per cent chance that a tumour brought on by sunbed use will turn cancerous. And if you continue to use a sunbed and you are under the age of 25, this risk is upped by 1.8 per cent every time you go under the tanning lights.
Skin cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in Ireland and it is estimated that over 8,000 new cases of the disease are diagnosed in our country every single year.
Skin cancer in Ireland has been on the rise since the late 1970s when the use of sunbeds became more widespread in Irish society and with the increase of travel companies offering cheap holidays abroad.
The above research comes from the well-respected experts based at the International Prevention Research Institute and noted experts at the European Institute of Oncology.
As part of the research, more than 12,000 skin cancer sufferers were studied between 1981 and 2012.
“The 87 per cent should be a warning to people,” said Mathieu Boniol, the director of the research.
“Sunbeds cause cancer and pose a greater risk the younger you start using them. They are very powerful devices that people often use at a very young age. This research must help push a change in behaviour,” he added.
According to Mr Boniol, there should be legal restrictions put in place in order to forbid the sunbed industry from making false health claims.
“Our research shows that skin cancers can be prevented by avoiding exposure to indoor tanning devices. People can get all the Vitamin D they need by occasionally exposing their face and hands to natural sunlight,” he said.
Have you ever used a sunbed? Would you ever use one?
