>> Sunbeds

British Photodermatology Group Consensus View on
Sunbeds for Cosmetic Tanning 

To see the British Association of Dermatologists' position statment on sunbeds, and statistics, please click here.

In 1990 the BPG published a summary of the adverse effects of cosmetic tanning with UVA sunbeds and recommended that people should not use them.(1) We are aware of no studies that show any benefits of sunbed tanning, yet there are a number of short and long term health risks associated with their use.

Many sunbed users believe that skin damage is avoided provided their skin does not burn. Unfortunately this is not true since damage can be shown to occur with UVA exposures below those necessary for burning. The short-term damaging effects of excessive exposure to sunbeds include:

• Sunburnt skin, which becomes painful, red and may blister and peel
• Skin dryness and itching
• Bumpy itchy skin
• Possible rash if certain medicines are taken or lotions are applied to the skin
• Eye irritation or conjunctivitis, if suitable goggles are not worn

There may also be long-term health effects, including:

• Premature ageing of the skin, which will then look coarse, leathery and wrinkled
• Skin cancer - the more exposures, the greater the risk
• Increased risk of cataracts (clouding of the lens of the eye) later in life, if suitable goggles are not worn

The most serious problem that UVA sunbeds may cause is induction of malignant melanoma. Since the BPG first published its report on sunbeds, there has been accumulating epidemiological (2-7) and biological (8-15) evidence to support the belief that UVA radiation may be important in this potentially fatal disease. Based on this evidence, our view is that sunbed use for cosmetic tanning should be strongly discouraged. We prefer education and information to further this aim rather than prohibition. Additional information for users and operators of sunbeds is available from the Health & Safety Executive.(16)

Professor Brian Diffey
BPG Chairman

• This statement does not apply to the use of ultraviolet radiation for treating skin diseases, where, in many cases, UV exposure can be beneficial.
• To see the British Association of Dermatologists' position statment on sunbeds, and statistics, please click here.

References

1. Diffey BL, Farr PM, Ferguson J, Gibbs NK, de Gruijl FR, Hawk JLM, Johnson BE, Lowe G, MacKie RM, McKinlay AF, Moseley H, Murphy GM, Norris PG, Young AR. Tanning with ultraviolet A sunbeds. Br Med J 1990; 301: 773-4

2. Swerdlow AJ, English JSC, MacKie RM, O'Doherty CJ, Hunter JAA, Clark J, Hole DJ. Fluorescent lights, ultraviolet lamps, and risk of cutaneous melanoma, Br Med J 1988; 297: 647-650

3. MacKie RM, Freudenberger T, Aitchinson TC. Personal risk-factor chart for cutaneous melanoma, Lancet 1989; ii: 487-490

4. Walter SD, Marrett LD, From L, Hertzman C, Shannon HS, Roy P. The association of cutaneous malignant melanoma with the use of sunbeds and sunlamps, Am. J. Epidemiol. 1990; 131: 232-240

5. Autier P, Doré J-F, Lejeune F, Koelmel KF, Geffeler O, Hille P, Cesarini J-P, Lienard D, Liabeuf A, Joarlette M, Chemaly P, Hakim K, Koeln A, Kleeberg UR. Cutaneous malignant melanoma and exposure to sunlamps or sunbeds: an EORTC multicenter case-control study in Belgium, France and Germay. Int J Cancer 1994; 58: 809-813

6. Westerdahl J, Olsson H, Måsbäck A, Ingvar C, Jonsson N, Brandt L, Jönsson P-E, Möller T. Use of sunbeds or sunlamps and malignant melanoma in southern Sweden. Am J Epidem 1994; 140: 691-699

7. Autier P, Joarlette M, Lejeune F, Lienard D, Andre J, Achten G. Cutaneous malignant melanoma and exposure to sunlamps and sunbeds: a descriptive study in Belgium. Melanoma Research 1991; 1: 69-74

8. Setlow RB, Grist E, Thompson K, Woodhead AD. Wavelengths effective in the induction of malignant melanoma. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1993; 90: 6666-7

9. Gallagher RP, Elwood JM. Sun exposure and the epidemiology of melanoma. In: Gallagher RP, Elwood JM, eds. Epidemiological Aspects of Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma. Boston: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1994, 15-66

10. Diffey BL, Healy E, Thody AJ, Rees JL. Melanin, melanocytes, and melanoma. Lancet 1995; 346: 1713

11. Autier P, Doré J-F, Schifflers E, Cesarini J-P, Bollaerts A, Koelman KF, Geffeler O, Lejeune F, Lienard D, Joarlette M, Chemaly P, Kleeberg UR. Melanoma and use of sunscreens: an EORTC case-control study in Germany, Belgium and France. Int J Cancer 1995; 61: 1-7

12. Westerdahl J, Olsson H, Måsbäck A, Ingvar C, Jonsson N. Is the use of sunscreens a risk factor for malignant melanoma? Melanoma Research 1995; 5: 59-65

13. McGregor JM, Young AR. Sunscreens, suntans, and skin cancer. Br Med J 1996; 312:1621-2

14. Young AR. Does UVA exposure cause human malignant melanoma? Eur J Dermatol 1996; 6: 225-6

15. Stern RS, Nichols KT, Väkevä LH. Malignant melanoma in patients treated for psoriasis with methoxsalen (psoralen) and ultraviolet A radiation (PUVA). New Engl J Med 1997; 336: 1041-5

16. Health & Safety Executive, Controlling the health risks from the use of UV tanning equipment. ING(G)209 10/95, 1995