25% of British Children are Subjected to Uva Sessions

“According to estimates, more than 250,000 children in England aged between 11 and 17, are exposed to significant risk of developing melanoma,” says Catherine Thomson in a letter published in British Medical Journal. 

Through this writing, several researchers of the Institute of Cancer Research UK, Institute of Molecular Medicine and University Hospital of St James (Leeds, England) made an urgent appeal to the authorities to prohibit children under 18 years access to self-tanning lamps. 

As the authors discuss, this type of legislation already exists in Scotland and Wales has been proposed. Outside the borders of the United Kingdom, for example, the Ministry of Health of Brazil has just restrict the use solely for therapeutic purposes, for example, treatment of diseases such as vitiligo, mycosis and psoriasis, provided with medical care. In fact, it was established that the clinics that offer this service to achieve aesthetic goals may be punished with a heavy fine. 

Young people in Spain 
Although Spain did not have jobs that value use by young people from self-tanning lamps, the perception of specialists is not as alarming. “Maybe after 16 years is when they start to realize some sessions for special events,” said Yolanda Gilaberte, a dermatologist at St. George’s Hospital of Huesca and expert in photoprotection. 

Moreover, argues Dr. Gilaberte, “the predominant skin type in Spain is the third (characterized by that tans easily and burns with difficulty) and the Anglo-Saxon is II. The white population has a higher risk. 

In Spain there are no explicit prohibitions, but there is a framework of recommendations. For example, the Spanish Society of Medicine and Surgery (SEMCC) “discourages the use of UV lamps under 18 years, as well as pregnant women and people with fair skin (skin types I and II) or many moles or freckles. Those who have suffered from any skin disease who are taking medication (drugs are photosensitive) or who are conducting a skin treatment, medical or cosmetic, should have prior consultation with your doctor, “qualifies Victor Garcia, President Society. 

As indicated Concha Obregon, communications officer of the Board of the Spanish Society of Aesthetic Medicine (SEME), “As recommended not to smoke or eat trans fat, also suggest overexposure to UVB and UVA rays, as they increase the risk of skin cancer. 

Regardless of those factors that differentiate the Spanish experience of the English, the experts consulted by ELMUNDO.es agree that should be controlled some aspects of this practice. “First of all, should be banned to the public counter for tanning equipment and also believe that inspectorates should be established to inspect the unauthorized centers,” says Dr. Garcia. 

Legislation and scientific evidence 
For experts, it is important to the existence of regulations that accompany and support the scientific evidence, recently announced by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC, according to its acronym in English). According to the FAO, the use of artificial tanning beds before age 35 can increase by 75% the risk of skin cancer. 

Catherine Thomson’s letter also notes two other studies conducted by the Institute of Cancer Research UK. In total, involving more than 9,000 children between 11 and 17. They conclude that 6% of this population had used such devices, especially girls around age 14. 

26.5% admitted subject to these tanning sessions at least once a month. Moreover, according to data emerging from one of the two jobs, 40% of young users were using self-tanning booths weekly: 23.2% worked at home and the rest in beauty salons or gyms. In 22% of cases there was no oversight. Only 11.4% of those who were supervised counted on previous warnings of the potential harm involved in this practice. 

For these reasons, the researcher, as so many specialists in Dermatology, insists that the regulations should limit access to self-tanning booths to children under age 18 and close those places where supervision is not carried out properly, not to expose children to unnecessary risk of developing skin cancer.