Sunbed use and cancer

The one-third of women who use sunbeds could be putting themselves at greater risk of a potentially life-threatening form of skin cancer.

A survey by the charity Cancer Research UK found that over eight in ten sunbed users first used the tanning device before the age of 35.

This increases their risk of malignant melanoma, as a recent report from the International Agency for Research into Cancer found that people who use sunbeds before 35 increase their risk of the cancer by 75 per cent.

In the UK almost 9,000 cases of malignant melanoma are diagnosed each year, with more than 1,800 dying from the disease annually.

Cancer Research UK's Rebecca Russell said the results of the survey "make a stark warning to young people about the dangers of indoor tanning".

"You can't always see the damage that UV does straight away. It builds up over time," she added.

"But every time you use a sunbed you are harming your skin and increasing your risk of skin cancer."

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