Using a sunbed 'a really, really dangerous thing to do', says leading dermatologist

Professor Caitriona Ryan, co-founder of the Institute of Dermatologists, said: 'Sunbed use has been really linked to an increase in melanoma.'

Sunbeds are more dangerous than natural sun yet remain popular especially with people not interested in safe fake-tanning products, a leading dermatologist has warned.

Professor Caitriona Ryan, co-founder of the Institute of Dermatologists, was speaking after a shocking study by Cork-based researchers revealed the true extent of sunbed use in Ireland.

“We know that having been on a sunbed for even one session can increase your melanoma risk by up to 60%,” she said.  “It’s a really, really dangerous thing to do. Sunbed use has been really linked to an increase in melanoma.” 

She added: “This is a cancer that kills young people, people in their 20s, 30s, or 40s. And often our patients who get early melanoma have a history of sunbed use.” 

The advent of self-tanning products “changed the dynamic” away from sunbeds particularly among young women, she said, but not for everyone.

“Guys have really gotten into using the gym in Ireland, so especially those in their teens or 20s want to show off their muscles but not their ‘white, pasty skin’ so it seems like a lot of men have taken to using sunbeds as well,” she said.

“They would not use the fake tan (products)”.

Patients sometimes defend their sunbed use, saying: "Oh I just do the odd (session) before I’m going on holidays to get a base so I don’t burn." 

However she cautioned: “You are doing much more damage getting that base than if you went away and got a sunburn on the holiday." 

Prof. Ryan, a clinical professor at University College Dublin, urged people to wear sunscreen in Ireland even on cloudy days. “I think if people think they are actually going to get burnt they put sunscreen on,” she said, referring to sun holidays. 

“But for the long-term exposure not so much, we see that all the time. 

The vast majority of our skin cancer in Ireland is face and hands because those parts of you are exposed to daily sun.

It is “incredible” the level of skin cancer they see among farmers, fisherman or people doing outdoor sports here. 

She welcomed the study as the first time attitudes to sunbeds in Ireland have been analysed in this way. The Irish Cancer Society has also said sunbeds are not safer than sun tanning. 

“It won’t protect you from sunburn or damage to your skin from sunbathing. It isn’t a great way to get Vitamin D,” they said. 

“Sunbeds give off UV rays that can be up to 15 times stronger than the midday Mediterranean sun. What sunbeds can do is cause your skin to sag and wrinkle.”

The study, published in the Irish Examiner on Monday, showed 41.5% of people have used a sunbed and 10.6% did so on average eight times in the year up to December 2020.

There is an “obvious disconnect” between awareness of the risks and behaviour, researchers from the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital and University College Cork found.