A MOTHER who battled skin cancer has criticised an advertising campaign detailing the health benefits of sunbeds.
The poster, saying "Sunbed sessions ARE good for you" is produced by The Sunbed Association (TSA), Karen Hills pictured above who has critised the campaign.
TSA promote good practice within the unregulated tanning industry, and say regular exposure to UV light is essential for the creation of vitamin D.
But skin cancer survivor Karen Hills said the poster may send out the wrong message, especially to children.
Karen, 40, of Dunholm Avenue, Middlesbrough, said: "I don't think it's a very good message for young people, who are under pressure to look glamorous.
"A lot of celebrities have a tan. If one of them was diagnosed with skin cancer it might make people more aware of the dangers."
Karen wants cigarette-style warning stickers on sunbeds to tell people of the dangers, and a register of tanning sessions so over-exposure is less likely.
Karen was diagnosed with malignant melanoma in March after noticing changes to a mole on her leg.
Surgeons operated in April. She goes to the hospital for regular check-ups and it will be five years before she gets the all clear.
Karen said: "I was addicted to having a tan. I'd use sunbeds whenever there was a special occasion or a special offer on." Now the mental health support worker vows she will never use a sunbed again.
"The same goes for my daughter. She used to use them, but doesn't any more. We both have spray tans instead," said Karen
One shop where the poster, pictured, is displayed is Heatwave tanning salon on Milton Street, Saltburn. Louise Willis-Keeler, who owns the salon, said she warns customers of the dangers of overusing sunbeds - and said under-16 year olds are not allowed to tan in her premises.
She said: "The usage of customers is monitored. There is a medical questionnaire to complete and we have labels customers can read before they start tanning. We do all we can to make sure they are aware of the guidelines about safe tanning."
A spokesman for The Sunbed Association defended the health benefits of sunbeds, saying they help the body produce vital vitamin D.
The association's website claims in the UK, "our bodies can only manufacture Vitamin D from exposure to the sun from May to October. Outside of these months, the sun is simply not strong enough."
The spokesman said: "We must all take a certain amount of UV exposure and sunbed users must find the right balance. More than 80% of sunbed users do so at appropriate levels for their skin types."
Indy Rihal, speaking on behalf of the British Skin Foundation said: "Using sunbeds damages your skin in the same way that sunbathing does. Exposing your skin to UVA and UVB rays will increase the chance of you developing skin cancer.
"Ensure you protect yourself from UV rays from the sun and sunbeds and never let your skin burn."
Be aware of risks
AS with exposure to natural sunlight, too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from tanning equipment can damage your skin and sometimes your general health.
The short-term damaging effects of excessive exposure to UV radiation include: Sunburnt skin, which becomes painful, red and may blister and peel; skin dryness and itching; bumpy itchy rash; eye irritation or conjunctivitis, if suitable goggles are not worn.
There may also be long-term health effects including premature aging of the skin which will then look coarse, leathery and wrinkled; skin cancer - the more exposures, the greater the risks; increased risk of cataracts (clouding of the lens of the eye) later in life, (if suitable goggles are not worn).
DR DARON SEUKERAN, pictured, has been a consultant dermatologist at the James Cook University Hospital for 10 years.
He said: "There is no doubt that sunlight is important for our wellbeing, but most people get all they need from ordinary exposure to sunlight outdoors.
"The majority of people who use sunbeds have more sessions than is considered safe.
"And it can take up to 20 years for a cancer to develop, so people who use them a lot when they are young may not see any symptoms.
"All the evidence suggests it is so difficult to determine what is a safe level of sunbed use, so it is better to not take the risk of using one."
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The number of lives saved by people doubling their sun exposure might be 10 times higher than the number of fatal skin cancers that would result, according to a study conducted by researchers at the Institute for Cancer Research in Oslo, Norway, and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Exposure to the ultraviolet radiation from sunlight increases the risk of developing skin cancer, but also increases the body’s production of vitamin D. The connection between vitamin D and bone health is well-known, and recent research suggests that a higher vitamin D intake might also provide protection against certain cancers, diabetes and multiple sclerosis. Vitamin D is also believed to help with the proper functioning of the immune system.
“The skin cancer risk is there, but the health benefits from some sun exposure are far larger than the risk,” said lead researcher Johan Moan. “What we find is modest sun exposure gives enormous vitamin D benefits.”
Vitamin D deficiency is a particular problem at northern latitudes, where the sun is weaker, particularly during the winter. Researchers calculated that in response to the same amount of time spent outdoors, Australians living just south of the equator produce 3.4 times more vitamin D than people living in Britain and 4.8 times more than people living in Scandinavia.
According to Moan, if the general population of Norway doubled the amount of time spent in the sun, approximately 300 more people would die each year from skin cancer, representing twice the current death rate. At the same time, there would be 3,000 fewer deaths from other types of cancer.
“The current data provide a further indication of the beneficial role of sun-induced vitamin D for cancer prognosis,” said researcher Richard Setlow, from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory.
Moan recommends that people spend half as much time in the sun each day as it would take them to develop a sunburn.
Recommended resource: The Healing Power of Sunlight and Vitamin D, featuring an exclusive interview with Dr. Michael Holick.
http://google-sina.com/2008/08/08/sun-exposure-saves-ten-times-as-many-lives-via-vitamin-d-than-die-from-skin-cancer/