During the last couple of years there has been a lot of discussion about the dangers of using sunbeds to get a tan, there are particular worries about their use by under 18 year olds. In December 2009 the owner of a tanning salon where a schoolgirl was badly burned on a sun bed was sentenced to community service and told to pay £6,000 costs. The charges did not relate to the injured girl but the incident had prompted an inspection of the premises. More details on:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8400049.stm and http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8364418.stm
Following a private members bill introduced by Julie Morgan, the Labour MP for Cardiff North theGovernment has announced it'sin favourof a ban ontanning salonsallowing under 18s to use sunbeds. The bill will have its second reading in the House of Commons later this month. "The scientific evidence is clear," said Health Secretary Andy Burnham."Sunbeds increase your risk of getting skin cancer. It is far too easy for young people to use sunbeds and I am determined to take action to protect them. I fully support this Bill which will force tanning salons to ban access for people under 18 years old."
A Cancer Research UK report, commissioned by the Government and published in November last year, showed worrying levels of sunbed use amongst under 18s showed that:
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Overall, 6% of children aged 11-17 years in England said that they had used a sunbed
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There was significant variation across the regions: in the North11% of children have used a sunbed compared with 4.2% in the Midlands andSouth of the country
In a study of sixmajor cities in the UK, sunbed use among 11-17 year olds was significantly higher in Liverpool (20%) and Sunderland(18%) than in four other cities combined.
Actress Gemma Merna, who plays Carmel Valentine in Channel 4's Hollyoaks, also supports a ban. Speaking about the dangers of sunbeds she said: "I started to use sunbeds once or twice a week with my friends when I was 15 but never realised the risks that I was putting my skin through just to get the perfect tan. When I was younger I just wanted to look tanned and to fit in with everyone and didn't give any thought to the risks I was taking. I now realise the damage that sunbeds can do and support any move to ban them to under 18s." Also there is a programme on BBC3 on Thursday February 4th Nicola Roberts: The truth about Tanning http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00qmvp9 explore the culture of tanning amongst young women and men in the UK, and the extremes they will go to in order to obtain the perfect tan.
Let us know what you think?
Do you use sunbeds and if so why?
Do you think that sunbeds should be banned for under 18s?
How much are you aware of the dangers of sunbathing?
How important is it to you to have tan?
tam@funkydragon.org