While theAustralia has just banned UV tanning salons, the magazine 60 million consumers has just published the results of its survey about UV cabins in France. And in view of the laxity shown by professionals in the health sector, the magazine alerts the public authorities and asks for theprohibition pure and simple tanning booths.
The survey was conducted with the help of 50 French volunteers, who presented themselves in tanning centers located in several large cities in France (Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Strasbourg and Paris), on the same principle as mystery shoppers.
Dangerous misinformation and laxity
With particularly high-risk profiles (fair skin, pregnancy, freckles, light hair), clients entered tanning salons expecting health warnings about artificial UV rays. Normally, such profiles (25 clients were at least 5 months pregnant) should not have been allowed to access the tanning booths. Despite this, three quarters of the interviewers were able to use them and only 22% of them were informed of the dangers of artificial UV. Even more surprisingly, 22% of clients were treated to a speech on the benefits of indoor tanning, “which is totally prohibited by regulations” according to the magazine. A professional from a Parisian tanning center declared that “with UV sessions every two weeks, your skin will be better prepared for the sun”. Pure intox according to the director of the prevention department of the National Cancer Institute, interviewed by the magazine: “In France, tanning booths mainly deliver UVA. However, it is UVB rays that cause the skin to thicken which, as part of a natural tan, can protect against the sun. “
But this culpable laxity is not surprising for the magazine 60 million consumers, since the staff of tanning centers are not trained accordingly and they depend on this activity. And with nearly 40,000 tanning devices available to the public according to the Ministry of Health, against 18,000 in 2010, this sector is booming. The prices are also more and more attractive: count 5 € on average the session of ten to fifteen minutes, according to the survey of the magazine.
500 to 2,000 deaths per year within 30 years
UV cabins are believed to be responsible for 19 to 76 annual deaths per melanoma cutaneous according to a study by the Institute for Public Health Surveillance dated 2012. And in the next thirty years, 500 to 2,000 annual deaths could be due to the use of UV cabins. For 60 million consumers, current regulations are not enough. The magazine suggests setting up “large-scale campaigns, provided by prevention professionals” as is already done for tobacco. In the same spirit, he suggests that the public authorities tax these establishments “to dissuade the public. “All this” while waiting for the only measure that is worth: their total ban. “
And you what do you think ? Should we ban UV booths in France? Come talk about it on the forum.
Read also :
UV cabins banned from January 1 in Australia
UV sessions dangerous (also) for the eyes
Academy of Medicine warns against tanning booths
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