Not only is the risk of using tanning beds considerable, but the tanning industry seems to be operating under a suspicious code of practice. Of 400 tanning beds examined by the scientists, nine out of ten were found to be emitting radiation at levels above the government guidelines. The overall risk of skin cancer was found to be twice that of spending the equivalent amount of time in the Mediterranean midday sun. Some estimates relating to the effect of high-power sunlamps stand as high as six times the risk compared to natural sunlight exposure.
It seems that our high-street beauty habits are a great source of danger to our health and wellness. Research confirms a link between tanning bed usage and an enhanced risk of four types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Of the four, melanoma is the most threatening kind and figures are on the rise in the UK. Yinka Ebo, senior health information officer at Cancer Research UK explains that sunbeds ‘just aren’t worth it’ and quotes research showing that using a sunbed for the first time before the age of 35 increases the risk of skin cancer by 87 per cent. As all experts agree, the price you pay for a deeper tan is at minimum long-term skin damage, and at most skin cancer itself.