Michelle Scott asks about the safety of tanning beds.
At our recent conference, we had a PR consultant speak about health
promotion campaigns. She had, coincidentally, been involved in the SunSmart
campaign launch for the Anti-Cancer Council of Victoria (Aust), so I asked
her to bring me some material on solariums etc.
The material includes a reference "Sunscreens, suntans and skin cancer",
BMJ Volume 313, 12 October 1996 (letter to the editor) which refers to the
proliferation of sunbeds in leisure centres in the UK and a previous
article BMJ 1996;312:1621-2 (june 1996).
There is some interesting information about how solariums should have
printed information on the risks and get clients to sign such advice. The
sample advice form this particular state government is trying to have
enforced here says:
"you should not undergo ultraviolet exposure in this establishment within
48 hours of undergoing ultraviolet exposure.."
"you should avoid, as far as practicable, intentional exposure to sunlight
within 48 hours both before and after any solarium exposure"
"you must always wear protective goggles.. "
and there are other warnings about certain peoples' propensity for greater
risk, including people who have previously had skin cancers..
and that's me, with a malignant basal cell carcinoma removed last November,
but as the SunSmart campaign press release (Solariums industry a danger to
public health) says "2/3 of the Australian population will develop the
disease".
So, for any person, but particularly for bf and pregnant women, I'd advise
caution and read the material on UVA (used in solarium beds) and UVB as
both cause skin cancer.
Jan Cornfoot
Editor, Birth Issues
Brisbane, Australia