October 10, 2008 – American and British researchers advise against going to tanning salons. The lamps used in these living rooms would not be safer than the rays of the sun, they claim.
The latest studies1.2 published on the subject conclude that exposure to UVA rays from sunlamps would be as harmful for the skin as exposure to the sun. UVA from tanning salons also increases the risk of melanoma formation, which is responsible for 75% of deaths caused by skin cancer. Young people under the age of 18 – as well as people with pale hair, light eyes and sensitive skin – are more affected by the harmful effects of UVA rays.
“These data are one more argument against tanning salons,” says Dr.r Peter Vignjevic, dermatologist for over ten years in Ontario. “There is no safe way to tan and the risks are even greater when you are exposed to ultraviolet rays at a young age,” he explains. Each dose of ultraviolet rays that we receive daily accumulates over time, the first 14 years of life being decisive ”, continues the dermatologist.
The lamps in tanning salons mainly emit UVA rays. These do not burn the skin, which is why these establishments declare them safe. However, their intensity is two to five times higher than that of the sun’s rays and they penetrate deeper into the skin. UVA rays contribute to premature aging and damage to the skin, as well as the appearance of melanomas, which are responsible for the majority of deaths from skin cancer.
“When my patients ask me if they should go to tanning salons, I answer the same as if they asked me for permission to smoke. The answer is no, even in small doses! », Exclaims the Dr Vignjevic.
What about vitamin D?
Tanning salons extol the merits of exposure to sunlamps as a source of vitamin D. Several studies have shown that exposure to the sun, the main source of vitamin D, protects against certain cancers. All it takes is a healthy diet and moderate exposure to the sun each day to get vitamin D intake, says Dr Vignjevic. “The artificial tan seems to me much riskier than the lack of vitamin D,” he adds.
A study3 conducted in Ontario by the Canadian Cancer Society has shown that many owners of tanning salons do not heed the recommendations of Health Canada. Since 2005, they have been advised to limit attendance by young people under the age of 18 and to inform users of the potential dangers of tanning beds. The results of the study show that the self-regulation of the indoor tanning industry is not working. The Canadian Society is calling for provincial legislation to regulate the indoor tanning industry.
Emmanuelle Bergeron – PasseportSanté.net
1. Berwick M, Are tanning beds “safe”? Human studies of melanoma. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2008 Oct; 21 (5): 517-9.
2. Bennett DC. Ultraviolet wavebands and melanoma initiationPigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2008 Oct; 21 (5): 520-4.
3. For more information: Canadian Cancer Society calls for regulation of the indoor tanning industry in Ontario.
