RAFT Supports Private Members Bill banning Under 18s using Sunbeds
Posted 13/01/10
RAFT welcomes the news that the Government will be supporting a Private Member's Bill, seeking to introduce the ban on allowing under-18s to use sunbeds.
For a number of years RAFT has been undertaking research on the role of UV light on skin and its contribution to skin cancer.
RAFT CEO, Leonor Stjepic states "As experts in skin cancer research, we have been alarmed by the rising incidences of skin cancer - especially amongst young people."
Given the recognised role that UV light plays in the development of skin cancer, we are delighted that the Government is now backing the campaign to stop under 18s using sunbeds.
Melanoma is now the most common cancer in young people aged 15-34, and kills more than 2000 people a year, that is five people dying of melanoma in the UK every day. This form of Skin Cancer is totally preventable - 98% of skin cancer cases are as a result of over exposure to the sun or sun beds.
Sunbeds are now known to have the capacity to emit very high levels of UV, many times stronger than the midday summer sun in most countries, and a person using a sunbed before the age of 35 increases their risk of developing skin cancer by up to 75%.
Finding a non-surgical treatment for skin cancer is one of our goals. However, we believe that prevention is the most effective cure and anything that contributes to preventing skin cancer must be good news.
Sadly we know that banning under-18s won't necessarily stop young people trying to use sunbeds. RAFT is a supporter of Fake Bake's "Save your Skin" campaign, which has been calling for a ban on coin operated tanning kiosks, and presently has over 12,700 supporters. Due to the unmanned nature of these coin operated tanning kiosks, they are available to young boys and girls who can use a sunbed without anyone asking for ID to prove they are over 18.
This legislation is a start but legislation alone is not enough. The public needs easy access to well researched facts on skin cancer and tanning so that they can make informed choices about their tanning habits. Good tanning habits need to be taught from an early age by parents and teachers.
"We need to get the message across to young people that using a sunbed is not cool. What we need are more Nicola Roberts' raising awareness about UV damage and fewer celebrities making irresponsible comments about sunbed use."
